Bambew - Blog 2019-12-30T10:58:00+07:00 Bambew 2019-12-30T10:58:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:18:57+07:00 The Straw Score - Which Reusable Straw is Best for You? James Herald More



It's very clear that plastic does not mean fantastic but which reusable straw is best for you? Between bamboo straws, grass straws, paper straws, metal straws, and more, it can be confusing.

There are a lot of options available but each has its own pros and cons. So if you’re in the market for a plastic-free alternative, we’ve done the hard work and compiled everything you need to know to work out which straws are super and which ones just suck!  


Glass Straws

There's no hiding it, we think glass is great. The straws are completely reusable and because the material is non-porous it won't impart any flavour on your drink. It's also see-through, so you can easily spot any parts that need an extra scrub. One obvious downside is durability. They are much easier to break than other options and drinking glass isn’t high on our bucket list! Another important consideration is that because glass is a great insulator, hot drinks can make it too hot to touch and cold drinks can be a chilly proposition.  


Paper Straws

Paper straws are so far the most widely accepted replacement for plastic. They're cheap, customisable and look good, but that’s about where the benefits stop. Everyone that has sipped more than a handful of times on a paper straw are in a race against time until it disolves into a soggy mess.

Still, even though they are single-use they are a far better option than plastic and can still be sustainable if the raw materials are correctly sourced.


Steel Straws

Steel straws are durable and will easily last a lifetime, most likely more! Should you choose to switch-up though, they are completely recyclable and can easily be repurposed for a second life. They are also simple to clean (though not see-through like glass).

Steel does, however, have a few downsides. Because metal is a conductor, the temperature of your beverage will quickly transfer to your straw. The taste of metal can also affect the flavour of your drink, even after many washes. Finally, many people also find the feeling of metal on teeth unenjoyable, so if you’re sensitive it’s best to avoid.


Wheat Straws

Another contender of the throne is wheat straws. Made from the leftover stem of the plant they are 100% natural and therefore biodegradable. They are also a natural byproduct of wheat farming so that’s another plus! Unfortunately, they are not very durable and prone to tear or rupture. Wheat straws are also single-use, so while these straws can be sustainably harvested, their disposable nature means more emissions through recurring transport and processing.


Silicone Straws

This straw has a lot going for it. It is flexible and pretty much impossible to break (we're looking at you, chewers!). It's heat and cold resistant, making it perfect for any temperature of beverage. And it can be easily cut if you’re looking for a cocktail straw substitute.

It all looks so good except for the fact that silicone is not biodegradable. They'll outlast you, making them an only slightly better option than single-use plastic straws.


Pasta Straws

The new kid on the block, pasta straws are quickly emerging as a popular alternative to plastics. Unlike normal pasta, they are only made from wheat and water (no egg) and can be created in any size needed. They are also completely biodegradable. BUT, again (like wheat and paper) these straws are only single-use. For obvious reasons, they don’t work very well with hot beverages, but they do fair well when drinking milkshakes or thick shakes. Another bonus, if you’re feeling a bit peckish afterwards they are 100% edible.


Bamboo Straws

It's no surprise that bamboo is best in our mind. These straws are all natural, biodegradable and most importantly reusable. They are almost a straight switch from plastic as they don’t affect the taste of the drink and are customisable with different widths and lengths available.

They also fare well with hot and cold drinks as they won’t conduct the temperature. While one straw won’t last a lifetime, each one has a shelf life of about 1-2 years of regular use and will then return to the earth at the end of their life cycle. Not to mention they look pretty cool too! The future is bright - the future is bamboo!

]]> 2019-08-13T14:27:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:22:00+07:00 Another 5 Big Companies Doing BIGGER Things for The Planet Rainy Dang The future is looking bright, as many of these corporations are now taking responsibility and making serious strides towards sustainable practises.




Rubber ducks in a small stream



A star-shaped cut-out paper with mountain background



Ikea building from afar



A black toy car on a map



2 pairs of hands wrapped around a pair of baby feet

Johnson & Johnson


]]> 2019-06-27T20:14:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:20:54+07:00 Drop It Like It's Hot: 10 Ways To Reduce Your Impact On Global Warming Rainy Dang While climate change is a complex worldwide issue, there are plenty of ways you can do your part to cut emissions and enact real change for the planet. Here are 10 simple ways you can help.


Think global act local’ is the catchphrase of the green revolution. While climate change is a complex worldwide issue, there are plenty of ways you can do your part to cut emissions and enact real change for the planet. Here are 10 simple ways you can help:

green products

Change your diet

Eating less meat and dairy is one of the best ways to lower your personal carbon footprint. Farming livestock (particularly cattle) uses a lot of natural resources. Producing one kilogram of beef requires 15,455 litres of water, 7kgs of grain and 330 metres of cleared land. The entire process emits approximately 16.5kgs of carbon dioxide. When coupled with the fact that the average U.S citizen consumes 125kgs of meat per year, it becomes obvious that this diet is not environmentally sustainable.   

behind the wheel

Drive Less

Walk, cycle, catch public transport or even rollerblade, any car off the road is a plus for our planet. Vehicles are one of the largest net contributors to climate change in the world. While hybrids and electric vehicles are on the way, they still run on electricity which is most likely sourced from fossil fuels.

a woman going shopping

Fast Fashion Farewell

Cheap clothes might be light on your pocket, but the real tab is ultimately paid for by the environment. Every second the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned. If the trend continues, by 2050 the fashion industry will use up a quarter of the world’s carbon budget. Instead of buying, revisit your wardrobe and find new combinations with what you already own. You can also pick up cheap gems at your local charity or thrift shop.

carbon footprint


Diverting biodegradable material from landfill prevents the release of methane (which is 70 times more harmful than C02). An additional benefit of composting is the nutrient-rich soil that is produced. This, in turn can be used to start your own veggie garden.

two potatoes

Reduce Food Waste

Worldwide, one third of all food produced is thrown out. Wasted food can be seen as the worst contributor to climate change as it provides zero benefits for consumers. Not only are you throwing away your money, but each stage of food production from farm to fridge adds more emissions, only to end up uneaten in landfill. Prevent wastage by pre-planning your meals, storing food appropriately and keeping leftovers.

eco customers

Conduct a Home Energy Audit

Improve the efficiency of your home by checking overall electrical appliances. Unplug rarely used items to stop standby power drainage and replace any old halogen light bulbs with LEDs. Check your home insulation to reduce your heating and cooling expenses. When purchasing new appliances look for their energy star rating, the higher it is the lower your power bill, and ultimately your impact on the environment.

two hands using bamboo cutlery to eat food

Bring your own...

Our society is obsessed with single-use plastics. Shopping bags, take-away cutlery and coffee cups have a short functional lifetime but last much longer in our landfills and waterways. Reduce your reliance on these items by bringing your own. Keep cups, cotton bags and bamboo cutlery are easy to find, cheap and last much longer.

sorting bins in different colors


Whether it’s sorting your rubbish into the right bin or re-purposing something old to give it new life, recycling is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. It is estimated that recycling saves over 700 million tonnes in C02 emissions every year. Salvaged raw materials can be reused when manufacturing new products, saving energy and diverting these valuable resources away from landfill.

solar panels

Invest in Solar

Our sun is the best and most consistent power source we have, why not use it to power your home. While a solar energy system may have high upfront costs, it is an investment that will pay dividends in time through the reduction or elimination of your power bill. If possible, install a power wall to be completely off the grid and run your home permanently on clean energy.



While there is a lot you can do as an individual to reduce your carbon footprint, the reality is that governments have the biggest impact on how your country reacts to climate change. They can introduce new legislation and force companies to follow strict emission guidelines. Become informed on which candidates support green policies and agendas and give your vote to them. 

]]> 2019-06-12T19:40:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:22:05+07:00 Global Brands Make a Stand: 5 Big Companies Doing BIGGER Things for The Planet Luke James The future is looking bright, as many of the giant corporations are now taking responsibility and making serious strides towards sustainable practises.



solar panelsSolar Panels


The 7th largest grocery chain in the world is setting the bar high for green policy. In 2017, the company announced it would run on 100% renewable energy worldwide by 2030. A big promise that is seeing action, Tesco has already begun rolling out solar panels on many of its larger stores in the UK. This commitment falls in line with the chain’s other initiatives that include investment in biodiesel trucks for store deliveries and a commitment to install 2,400 electric vehicle charge points across store locations in the next three years.

number 4


E-waste has quickly become one of the most problematic by-products of our techno-saturated society. HP is taking responsibility for its contribution by implementing a comprehensive recycling strategy. The program has seen approximately 65% of all its ink cartridges made from recycled plastics, diverting the equivalent of 25 million plastic bottles from landfill. The program has help HP secure an award for the 4th most sustainable company in the U.S.

flying shoes 


The running shoe giant has turned to R&D to reduce their eco impact. Brooks targeted one of the least biodegradable aspects of their product and used science to find a solution. BioMoGo is a midsole designed by the company to decompose in landfill. The product reduces the breakdown time of traditional midsoles from 1000 years to just 30, saving approximately 30 million pounds of landfill waste within the same timeframe. The best part is the company is working with others to spread the use of this technology. If any company can reduce its footprint by selling shoes, it’s Brooks.

money stuck on the ground

S.C Johnson

Maker of household cleaning products such as Windex and Mr Muscle, S.C Johnson is applying their own elbow grease to give the globe a new shine. The company recognised that many chemicals in their products caused damage to the environment. As a result S.C Johnson removed or replaced these ingredients at significant financial cost. Some products even lost their competitive advantage due to the changes. However, what was lost in dollars, has been gained in consumer trust as their actions solidify their commitment to sustainability and health of the planet.

micky mouse


The happiest place on earth is helping make earth happy with Disneyland sites across the globe embracing sustainable practises. Last year its Florida Park switched on 5 megawatt Mickey Mouse shaped solar facility providing enough energy to power two of its four parks in the state. Not to be outdone, Disneyland Paris runs entirely on geothermal energy. The Shanghai branch has also implemented a combined heating and cooling plant for its park to reduce emissions by 60%.

]]> 2019-05-28T15:50:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:19:21+07:00 Go Green or Go home: How Eco-Consumers are Voting with their Wallets Rainy Dang Consumers are seeking greener alternatives and making their voices heard through their purchasing powerFor businesses, this presents a unique opportunity to delight their customers and increase their bottom line. 


It’s 2019 and the word is out! With an influx of documentaries, news headlines and online content flooding the airways, the message of sustainability and environmental awareness cannot be ignored. Consumers around the world have taken note and are making their voices heard through their purchasing powerFor businesses, this presents an opportunity for steady growth, publicity and support from consumers. For those yet to implement an eco-friendly approach to their business, here are a few reasons you should take the plunge to help the environment and potentially your bottom line.

People joining hands

The Caring Consumer

Across many demographic and geographic borders, consumers are becoming more ethical about who they purchase from. A worldwide study in 2015 found 66% of customers would pay more for green products if they were available.  An ideal based on more than just sentiment, from 2017 to 18 the sales of vegan foods rose 10 times faster than food sales as a whole in America, the largest economy on earth.

This shift in purchasing habits can be mostly attributed to Millennials, with 3 out of 4 preferring to endorse businesses that affect sustainable practices. But there is a universal appreciation from all ages, as 46% of Baby Boomers and 55% of Gen X’ers willing to pay up for products and companies that support the environment. With an ever-growing target market, it’s clear the once niche industry is now mainstream.

A set of bamboo cutlery in wool pouch

Tapping into the Market

While some organisations have built their reputation on being environmentally friendly, others have capitalised on the opportunity and introduced products or policies that serve the growing market. Examples include McDonald’s new vegan burger and their phase-out of plastic straws across their locations, and cosmetics company L’Oreal committing to “zero deforestation" by 2020. Implementing these changes allowed both businesses to target the eco-conscious consumer, they are attracting a whole new demographic while doing good for the planet.

But you don’t have to be an industry giant to do the same. Purchasing sustainable products or reducing your carbon footprint can be enough to win over the audience. If your business is in the service industry, consider cutting out single-use plastics and implementing alternatives such as bamboo straws and cutlery. Encourage recycling by providing both bins for your customers and staff. Reduce your power use age by installing energy efficient appliances and lighting. These small changes send a big message to consumers and show that the organisation is serious about sustainability.

A hand holding up a germ

Talking the Walk

What you do and how you do it says a lot about who you are and business is no different. Brands that adopt sustainable practises are often driven by more than just their costing but it’s important to let others know about the work you do. A green narrative in your promotions can go a long way for attracting customers to your products and services. A recent study has found that 82% of adults claim to be well informed about brands with a strong track record for sustainability. Consumers are receptive to brands that align with their core values and reflect their personality. By promoting your green strategy, you are signalling to the world that you are a caring and ethical organisation. This builds on your brand identity in the minds of your consumers and promotes trust in your products.

Changing your business practises to be more environmentally friendly is an investment that consumers will reward in droves. The Eco-market is growing daily and the barriers for entry are low for those committed to implementing change. A green strategy is just as sustainable for your business as the environment.

]]> 2019-05-14T18:46:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:19:48+07:00 Saying ‘I Do’ to a Sustainable Wedding James Herald An amazing wedding shouldn't cost the earth - We’ve put together a simple list of environmentally friendly tips to help make your wedding clean and green. 


A time for celebration and extravagance, weddings are a big affair. On your special day, the last thing you want to think about is your impact on the environment. That’s why we’ve put together a simple list of environmentally friendly choices you can make at every stage of planning.


An outdoor green wedding venue 

The Venue

The most beneficial way to reduce your carbon footprint for any event, not just your wedding, is to choose the right venue. This fundamental decision can really make a difference in each subsequent stage of planning. The rule of thumb is to keep it local. The further away the venue is to you and your guests, the further away everyone and everything has to travel. Whether it’s your catering service, your marquee tent or just your friends and family, all have to find their way to your event. If a destination wedding is a must-have, do your research. Ask potential venues about their green policies (i.e a recycling program) or if they have received any industry acknowledgements for sustainable practices.


A bride trying on her wedding dress

The Dress

Saying yes to the dress is a pivotal moment for any bride to be and thankfully there are many eco-friendly options available, so you don’t have to compromise on your ideal style.


  • Look to the past
    The best method is to look for pre-loved gowns by asking friends, looking online or purchasing from a charity shop. There are thousands of options available and if you find something that is almost exactly right, hire a tailor, they can alter the gown to fit your size or specifications.

  • Rent-a-Dress
    Consider renting your dress. While not the most popular option, it’s the most practical and saves on the raw materials and textiles needed to make a dress that may only be worn once.

  • Keep it Ethical
    There are many bridal boutiques that specialise in selling gowns that are ethically made using eco-friendly methods such as organic cotton, bamboo or upcycled vintage fabrics. This way you have all the benefits of a designer dress while reducing your environmental impact.

  • Think of the future
    If you’ve already found the dress of your dreams a good conciliation is to focus on the second life of your garment. Think of ways to reuse the material or have it altered to wear for another occasion. One neat idea is to repurpose it into a novel keepsake. This company turns your dress into a teddy bear that can be given to your first child or kept as a reminder of your day.   


Outdoor catering


Choosing your food and catering options carefully will help reduce your overall environmental impact.  Work with your caterers to find meals with foods in-season and locally sourced. This ensures the freshest ingredient without having to import produce from far away.

Avoid plastic cups, straws or disposable plates and cutlery. Instead hire glassware and go the bamboo route. Bamboo straws and cutlery are sustainably made, eco-friendly, reusable and depending on the look of your wedding, add a stylistic touch to match the decorations or theme.

Be sure to include vegan or vegetarian options to the menu. While it may not be for everyone, providing an enticing plant-based meal might lure some away from the steak or fish.

White wedding invitation


Set the tone of your eco-wedding early by inviting your guests using sustainable methods. Paperless e-vites cut the waste, streamline RSVP replies and can be infinitely customisable. If some guests don’t have an email address, a good compromise is to design a printed version just for them. If you intend to use paper, look into recycled options. This company goes one step further by offering plantable seed paper, where guests can literally grow their own wildflowers from your invitation.  Finally, try to keep it simple. The more glue, ribbons and extras you add the more difficult it is to recycle after the event. A little reminder on the invite itself can help your guests dispose of the invite responsibly.


﻿biodegradable drinking straws


Many weddings use flowers as a key component in their decorations. While they look fantastic, they can be costly for both the planet and your pocket. Alternatives such as silk or hand-painted wooden arrangements look just as good and will last a lifetime. Using potted plants for table dressing ensures another use after the event, possibly as gifts for some of your guests. A new trend is using a fabric, button or broach arrangement for an alternative look bouquet.

Choosing the right theme of your wedding can also help to make sustainable decisions later on. Using a rustic or vintage look allows for the repurposing of old bottles, cans or wooden boxes. A homemade style lets you re-use fabrics for bunting or table cloths. Some have even replaced table name cards with decorated cookies.

As you can see, an eco-friendly wedding doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice beauty or quality. You can celebrate the future of your relationship and the planet by making small environmentally conscious decisions. A sustainable wedding is the perfect way to begin your lifelong union.

]]> 2019-04-08T19:28:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:19:38+07:00 Cleaning Up Their Act: How Hotels are Tackling Single-Use Plastic Luke James Restaurants, hotels and airlines all contribute their fair share to the plastic problem but customers demanding change and voting with their dollars. Hotels have started to listen - see what steps are being taken. 


hotel room green inititatives


It’s no secret that plastic is everywhere. Whether it’s brushing our teeth each morning or enjoying a daily coffee-to-go in a plastic lined paper cup. The problem seems to be interwoven with our way of life. While changing our individual habits can be tricky enough, what does it take to change a whole industry? Well, diminishing market share for one. 

Going green has its benefits. Restaurants, hotels, and airlines all contribute their fair share to the plastic problem but customers are starting to demand change and voting with their dollars. According to a recent report from Deloitte, 95% of business travelers believe the hotel industry should be undertaking “green” initiatives, and Millennials are twice as likely to support brands with strong management of environmental and social issues.

In order to stay relevant, hotels are changing the way they do business. With every initiative taken, venues are challenging industry standards one product at a time. Here are a few simple ways hotels, restaurants and other hospitality ventures are reducing their impact on the environment:


water bottles replacing single use plastice

Water bottles

Although they contain the source of all life, they’re doing their fair share to hurt the environment. Across the world, people purchase approximately 1 million plastic bottles per minute. Once you consider that only around 10% are recycled, it’s clear we have a pretty big issue.

Reusable water bottles in the form or steel, aluminum or glass are an easy alternative. Many hotels are now initiating green policies and removing all plastic water bottles from reception areas and conference rooms.

Innovative programs like Refill, Not Landfill aims to drastically reduce the amount of single-use plastic bottles by offering a reusable bottle and providing drinking stations installed around properties and cities to quench their thirst. This one small change of policy diverts 1000’s of bottles from ending up in the landfill.

bamboo straw


Currently, it is estimated that 8.5 billion plastic straws are polluting beaches around the planet. Doing an audit on their environmental practices, EDITION hotel found that they used 500,000 plastic straws per year in just one of their hotels! In a perfect world we would all enjoy our refreshing beverages with no straws at all, but the demand still exists and those wanting to keep their customers happy have found some eco-friendly alternatives. One of the most promising is bamboo straws.

Bamboo straws are 100% natural, biodegradable, durable and most importantly reusable! While paper straws beat plastic, they can quickly lose their shape, break-down and (like plastic) are only designed to be single-use. Bamboo straws, however, can last for years, are machine washable and ultimately offer the same drinking experience for guests. Many businesses are capitalizing on the longevity of these straws by engraving their company logo onto the product and offering it to guests as a souvenir to be enjoyed long after their stay.


takeaway containers for hospitality industry


Restaurants, particularly fast-food rely can rely heavily on disposable plastics and packaging. Whether it’s the plastic leftovers container provided at restaurants or the cutlery we use for meals on the go, it’s not hard to see the amount of single-use items going to waste. The best practice in this instance is reduction. Some businesses are asking their customers if they would like a carry bag, instead of just providing one, others are offering discounts for customers who bring in their own containers or coffee cups. Not everything is avoidable, but it all helps.

Eco-friendly alternatives are the other major way to reduce environmental costs.  Switching plastic packaging with paper or biodegradable materials is an easy method. Cutlery too can be substituted with many bamboo/wooden products. One company in India turned their spoons into biscuits to be enjoyed with their meal. If left uneaten the biscuit spoons will decompose in a matter of days.


alterantives to single use plastic toiletries


Everybody loves free things and part of any hotel experience is exploring the treasure trove of little gifts that come with your room. Toiletries such as shower caps, body wash, shampoo and conditioner all come within their own packaging and are all designed to be single use. While these items are complimentary for us, the environment usually picks up the bill.

As it would be impractical to rely on guests to always bring their own products, some hotel chains such as the Marriott have begun installing soap and shampoo dispensers within their bathrooms across all their locations. By refilling the dispensers, guests still get to enjoy all the perks of hotel accommodation, and the hotel is able to cut down on the 23,000 small bottles they use per year. The feedback they have received is positive, as many guests prefer having more product available to them than what was in the tiny take-away bottles.

customised hand-made bamboo ballpoint pen

In Room Materials

Hotels are finding innovative ways to replace items that have traditionally been made of plastic. Bins can be made from organic materials like rattan or water hyacinth with washable liners. Slipper and laundry bags can be replaced with linen and cotton. Even bamboo ballpoint pens can be used to replace plastic ballpoint pens. There is no shortage of sustainable solutions to traditionally plastic products.


At the end of the day, hospitality is an industry built on the individual needs of consumers, while there are many areas where single-use goods can be reduced, it’s ultimately up to us as consumers to make choices that reflect our desires. Choosing eco-friendly establishments that enact sustainable business practices provides a clear message to the industry and helps us to take one step closer to a zero waste society.   

]]> 2019-01-16T18:37:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:19:57+07:00 Planet or Plastic? The rise and fall of plastic straws Luke James More

There is a quiet revolution happening and consumers are influencing a seismic shift away from single-use plastics. But is it too little too late?

single-use plastics

With increased scrutiny on wasteful practices, 2018 was the year that the world waged war on plastic straws. In less than a century these ubiquitous plastic tubes spread ecological damage across the planet but their time may be coming to a close. We take a look through some of the big changes in the space and just how we got to this point.

A global shift

The swing away from plastic has been dramatic. The EU parliament has passed legislation that will ban single-use plastics by the year 2021 across all its nation states. Taipei has committed to banning single-use plastic including bags, stirrers and cutlery. The UK soon followed suit, announcing nationwide bans of many single-use plastics. Even the very word single-use plastic was named the 2018 word of the year by Collins Dictionary.

Hoteliers like the Marriott, Anantara and Hilton hotels are touting their eco-credentials by switching from plastic straws to sustainable alternatives. When Starbucks cease using plastic straws in 2020 across their 28,000 global stores worldwide it will eliminate the production of 1 billion straws a year and even McDonald’s will phase out straws from their UK and Ireland stores later this year.

Delta Airlines announced in October they will be ditching plastic straws, stir sticks, wrappers, and utensils on flights and in lounges across 2019 before Portuguese airline Hi Fly took it a step further, launching the first commercial flight without single-use plastic at the end of 2018. The flight is part of a trial only, but the direction is clear: single-use plastic’s days are numbered.


With more than 100,000 flights taking off each day around the world, the impact of cutting out plastic is clear.

It seems there is a global shift in mentality towards the issues of single-use plastic, but just how did straws become so popular to begin with?

A brief history of plastic straws

The humble drinking straw has origins spanning all the way back to 3000 BC, where Ancient Sumerians would use metal tubes for drinking beer, likely to avoid drinking the fermentation that would settle at the bottom.

Ryegrass straws were used in the 1800s but they fell out of favor as they would break down when immersed in liquid. By 1888 an inventor by the name of Marvin C. Stone patented the modern drinking straw. He created the device by wrapping paper around a pencil and later refined the straw by coating it in wax so that it wouldn’t dissolve in bourbon.

In the 1930s Joseph Friedman created the first bendable straw, which he promptly patented and mass produced. His product found favor with hospitals who found the bendable design ideal for patients who had difficulties drinking whilst laying in bed. The following decades saw plastic straws’ popularity spike and soon people were using them for sodas, milkshakes and they’re now an essential complement to smoothies and bubble teas, to the tune of billions of straws per year.

bendable straw

How big is the problem?

Estimates suggest that 500 million plastic straws are used every day across the United States alone. This equates to 73,000 metric tons of plastic straws that are produced every day, with 79% of this waste accumulated in landfills, or worse, dumped into our oceans.

Whilst this represents only a fraction of the 4- 12 million metric tons of plastic waste that enters our waterways each year, straws are one of the most potent symbols of short term convenience resulting in permanent environmental damage. Millions of seabirds, turtles and other marine life are killed by consuming plastic each year and the plastic that they consume works its way up the food chain onto our plates.

glass straws
Global plastic waste production from 1950–2015 (Image: Cosmos Magazine)

“It’s a gateway, a way to start,” says Adrian Grenier, the Hollywood actor turned environmental advocate. “A lot of times people are overwhelmed by the bigness of the problem and often give up. We need something achievable for everyday humans. The challenge is if we can get rid of plastic straws, let’s start there. Then we can move on from there.”

His Lonely Whale project has gained huge media attention and directed further attention to the plastic crisis. The organization works to make impactful change through advocacy, education and awareness campaigns and was instrumental in the Strawless in Seattle campaign. The month-long campaign helped usher in policy change that saw the city ban single-use plastic straws in 2018.

The world is struggling to recover from its plastic obsession. Indeed, it’s almost difficult to imagine a world without plastics, yet their large-scale production and use only dates back to ~1950. Plastics Europe, one of the world’s largest plastic producers, reports that 1.5 million tons of plastic were produced in 1950, but by 2015, the world was producing 322 million tons of plastic. Since then, the pace of use is accelerating, not decreasing but there are positive signs.

So what next?

The planet seems to be waking up from its plastic fueled stupor but awareness is not enough on its own. Activism has brought this problem to the forefront and is helping to change attitudes towards plastic pollution. Corporations, municipalities and national governments are moving closer to a ban on plastic straws and it is almost daily that another government is taking major steps to curb single-use plastic damage.

These moves are welcomed by Nicholas Mallos, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program. “With eight million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean every year, we cannot afford to let industry sit on the sidelines,” he said.

It’s up to conscious consumers to make the switch and continue to keep putting pressure on businesses to move towards sustainable practices, ditching single-use straws and other unsustainable products. With dedicated effort across the coming years, the blight of plastic straws may be viewed as a destructive but mercifully brief phase in the planet’s history.

The alternative is far more concerning. A species choked by short-lived trinkets of convenience as we destroy the very systems that sustain us. The choice to move towards sustainable practices and products is less of a decision as a global imperative.

There’s only everything at stake.

]]> 2018-12-20T18:43:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:21:39+07:00 Biodegradable, Degradable and Compostable - What is the difference? Luke James More

Degradable. Biodegradable. Compostable.

What does it all mean and what's the difference anyway?

making greener choices

Many of us are interested in making greener choices but with so many terms and that all mean different things, we thought we’d explain just what these terms mean. 

Read through to discover the difference between degradable, biodegradable and compostable and how you can make informed choices. 


Degradable simply means that something will break down into smaller pieces. It can be oxo-degradable (degradable when exposed to air) or photo-degradable (degradable through exposure to light).

One of the common areas we find this in green-washing is on supermarket bags. These are simply a conventional plastic bag that has been treated with special chemicals that make it fall apart when exposed to air and sunlight.

All this really means is that smaller pieces of plastic are produced that end up in the environment and can be eaten by wildlife. It is in many ways a far worse result as the bags do more damage to the environment when in smaller pieces. At least a complete plastic bag has more chance of being able to be picked up. 

A recent senate enquiry into the threat of marine plastic pollution in Australia found that the degradable bag option is equally as bad for the environment as regular plastic bags. They enter the food chain lower down, getting eaten by smaller species and making their way up the chain as larger species consume then. 



Biodegradable simply means that it is able to be eaten by living things like fungi, bacteria or microorganisms. For plastic bags, the most common materials that these are made from are corn or wheat starch and for other products, 

Now, this is all good and well, but there are certain conditions that must be met for the bag to biodegrade. The bag must be exposed to UV light, but more importantly, the temperature must reach 50 degrees Celsius. If biodegradable bags are sent to landfill and do not have access to oxygen, they end up producing methane, a greenhouse gas with a warming capacity 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. 


Compostable is a specific term given to biodegradable materials that biodegrade within a certain time frame under composting conditions.  These time frames and conditions can vary depending on the country but as a general rule, it means that the products will break down within the typical commercial composting cycle of 8 weeks, aided by movement of the soil and high heat. 

Compostable is the gold standard for all products, meaning that they are certified they will go from their current form back to the earth. Wherever possible, try to use compostable products over alternatives. 

Can I recycle biodegradable and degradable bags?

Generally, no.

All plastic bags, biodegradable and compostable bags will interfere with the recycling process if they are put in your standard recycling bin at home. 

Some supermarkets have begun offering plastic bag recycling facilities but there is a far better option, as we'll explain below. 


So, what's the solution?

The answer is so simple. Bring your own bag and you are taking a great step towards a cleaner future. Invest in a sturdy canvas bag that you can throw in your car or backpack. A set of produce bags will help when you are purchasing vegetables too. 

The future is in our hands and by transitioning from an economy based on convenience rather than taking simple steps to limit our consumption. Every action we take is a vote for the type of future we want.

Be the change you want to see in the world and make the change today. 

]]> 2018-12-06T15:00:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:20:08+07:00 What to do when every time you wash you're destroying the ocean Luke James More

As if the plastic that you can see wasn't already a big enough issue, microplastic is filling our oceans and our food chain and worst of all, you're part of the problem. 

 filling our oceans and our food chain

Every polar fleece sweater, every pair of yoga leggings, every lycra one-piece are belching out minute fragments of plastic into the natural environment. Every single time we do laundry up to 700,000 microfiber fragments can be released into the environment. A paper published in 2011 found that microfibers made up 85% of human-made debris on shorelines around the world.

Globally, that means a staggering 44 million plastic grocery bags worth of microplastic waste may be entering our oceans each year through our washing machines.

Every washing machine cycle causes abrasion of clothes, removing tiny fibers too small to be caught by the machine's filter. The microscopic fibers are too small even to be picked up by treatment plants. From here, they are flushed straight through into the rivers and then the oceans where they are consumed by marine creatures like fish, crabs, lobsters and mussels. 

Microfiber from sea salt

Microfiber recovered from sea salt. 
Picture: Lisa Devriese/ILVO 


More people, more plastic

Despite global efforts, there is increasing plastic being released into the ocean each year. Synthetic fibers are favored over many natural fibers in garment manufacturing as they can be longer lasting, have more stretch, warmth or have enhanced breathability. 

The concern is that with every wash cycle, every piece of synthetic clothing is releasing more and more particles into the ocean, causing untold damage to the natural environment. 


So what do we do about it?

We're still a long way of a solution to stopping microplastics from contaminating our natural environment but there are some steps that we can take as individuals. 

The best solution is of course to outlaw the products that cause these microplastics but that's not looking likely. On an individual level, choosing clothing made with natural fibers like wool, bamboo and organic cotton is one of the most powerful steps you can take. 

Another solution is to use laundry bags, which are made from monofilament and made to last 6-10 times longer than regular textiles. Guppyfriend produce specially designed laundry bags designed to collect micro-fibers before they end up going into the natural environment. Another innovation is the Cora Ball, which catches microfibers in the washer itself. 

sustainable wardrobe

Image: Guppyfriend


7 Tips for a sustainable wardrobe

  • Buy only what you need and purchase quality clothing that will last.
  • Only purchase clothing made from natural fibers. Don't buy synthetic fibers or clothing containing it.
  • Buy organic. Look for certification!
  • Buy Fair Trade so that you know your clothes were made by workers in good working conditions.
  • Fill your washing machine fully before washing.
  • Try to use cold water and environmentally-friendly detergent. Laundry balls and soap nuts are earth-friendly alternatives to conventional detergents.
  • Use a drying rack instead of using a tumble dryer.

    ]]> 2018-03-03T16:46:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:21:08+07:00 The uncomfortable truth about biodegradable plastics Andrea Gonzalez More

    With the earth's oceans choking on plastic waste, turning to biodegradable plastic appears to be a perfect solution. But what is the real truth about 'bioplastics' and are they really what they claim?

    biodegradable plastic

    The UN's top environmental scientist has issued a startling warning about biodegradable plastic water bottles and shopping bags, claiming it is a false solution for a planet grappling with plastic pollution. 

    With a truckload of plastic waste being dumped into our oceans every hour,  plastic waste has become a global issue. This waste often ends up contaminating our waterways, spread by currents to oceans from the Atlantic to the Antarctic and creating huge trash 'islands' in the middle of pristine oceans that can be as large as the state of Texas. 

    There are still many unanswered questions about biodegradable plastic and just how good they are for the environment. How long does it take for biodegradable plastics to decompose? What is the best way to dispose of them? How do biodegradable plastics actually work? 


    "It’s well-intentioned but wrong. A lot of plastics labeled biodegradable, like shopping bags, will only break down in temperatures of 50C and that is not the ocean. They are also not buoyant, so they’re going to sink, so they’re not going to be exposed to UV and break down."


    Green alternatives have positioned themselves as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics that can take more than 450 years to break down. But they may not be exactly what they seem. Jacqueline McGlade, the chief environmental scientist at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) doesn't seem to think so.



    "Biodegradable plastics require long-term exposure to high-temperatures (around 122F, or 50C), like those found in large municipal composters, to actually break down. Those conditions are not found very often in nature, and especially not in the oceans."


    The heart of the issue comes down to how biodegradable bags actually break down. A UNEP report notes "biodegradable plastics require long-term exposure to high-temperatures (around 122F, or 50C), like those found in large municipal composters, to actually break down. Those conditions are not found very often in nature, and especially not in the oceans.” 

    Quite simply, plastics marked as biodegradable do not degrade rapidly in the ocean and for the most part, not even in commercial facilities. Most cities compost yard waste but only a handful of sites, just 100 in the entire United States will accept 'biodegradable' plastics.

    To make things worse, some of the additives that help make biodegradable plastics break down also make it harder to recycle and are potentially harmful to the natural environment. 

    The real answer is to REDUCE. Reuse and Recycle. In that order. As responsible consumers, it is imperative to prevent this trash from entering the ecosystem to begin with. The choices we make in the materials we use have a lasting effect. Be the change in your world and move away from plastic towards ecologically friendly materials today. 

    ]]> 2018-03-01T18:41:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:18:22+07:00 5 simple tricks to reduce your plastic use Luke James More

    Plastic consumption is skyrocketing and it is doing unimaginable damage to the earth. With 95% of plastic not ever recycled, its time to make some changes. We take a look at some simple solutions to a global problem. 

    bamboo straws

    We get it... Plastic has been pretty darn useful in many ways but we need to really examine this relationship, because it's becoming toxic. Even though plastic has only been around for a little over 50 years, its influence has been huge. 


    According to Greenpeace, the equivalent of a truck full of rubbish is being dumped in our oceans every minute. Take a moment to really think about that for a second. Every. Minute.


    Whilst the problem can seem overwhelming there are loads of simple changes each and every one of us can do to make a difference. We count down some easy ways to limit your impact on the planet.


    biodegradable drinking straws

    Stop buying bottled water

    Seriously... Stop it. More than a million plastic bottles are bought around the world EVERY minute. This number is set to jump another 20% by 2021. In 2016 280 billion plastic drinking water bottles were sold, more than double than a decade earlier. Even though it's recyclable, the sheer volume is putting pressure on existing recycling facilities. The better solution is to replace your single use water bottle with a flask or reusable bottle. 


    ban plastic straws across the globe

    Ditch single-use straws

    Perhaps the biggest symbol of short lived convenience for a lifetime of environmental damage, the plastic straw is one of the top 10 items found in beach cleanups around the world. Marine life confuses it with food, causing damage to turtles and other creatures that call the ocean home. If you can't live without a straw, consider using a biodegradable version like our bamboo straws, designed to return back to the earth at the end of their life cycle. 


    bamboo straws

    Use reusable cutlery

    Most people take the plastic cutlery offered by venues with their take-away food out of habit. It's a nasty habit that needs to change. Currently, about 40 BILLION plastic utensils are used just within the United States within a year. Worldwide, this becomes a figure at 16 times this magnitude. A majority of these utensils are only used once and then discarded. Stop being such a jerk to the planet and instead, bring your own wooden or metal cutlery with you.


    bamboo straws

    Bring your own bag

    It's taken a while, but across the world, people are wising up to the damaging effect of single use plastic bags. England introduced a 5p charge on all single use plastic bags and their use went down by 85% within 6 months. So if you're not already bringing your own, you're already behind the trend. Even better, check out how useful multi-pocket bags can be. 


    bamboo straws

    Get loose

    When you purchase loose fresh fruit and vegetables, you're avoiding excess packaging and moving one step closer to a plastic-free future. A fantastic solution to bringing herbs and other smaller produce home are mesh bags where you can zip up your stash and keep it separate from the rest of your groceries. 


    ]]> 2018-02-17T23:52:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:21:55+07:00 5 Zero Waste Tricks That You Should Be Doing Already Andrea Gonzalez In the United States alone, more than 254 million tonnes of waste is generated per year. That is literally enough to stretch to the moon and back... 25 times. We've got some zero-waste tips and tricks that can be easily implemented into your everyday life and help you live more sustainably.


    Change your habits, change the world - it's not that hard. Here are some handy pointers on how to decrease your environmental footprint.


    Avoid single-use items

    Disposable items like plastic straws, utensils and water bottles are some of the worst culprits and one of the greatest examples of a moment of convenience leading to a lifetime of waste. It takes a little preparation but it's easy to break these habits. Bring your own travel mug to your favorite coffee shop (some will even give you a discount!), invest in bamboo utensils, bring a carry bag with you instead of taking a plastic bag and bring a mason jar with you (to carry leftovers). Small steps can make a huge difference in the long run. 


    glass straws
    Buy in bulk

    The bulk section of your supermarket is a great place to commence your zero waste journey. Not only do you avoid excess packaging, but by bringing your own cloth bulk bags or mason jars you can eliminate the need for plastic bags altogether.  



    Start Composting

    Many people think that food waste that ends up in the landfill simply returns to the earth naturally. In fact, once food gets to the landfill it generates methane, a greenhouse gas approximately 23 times as potent as carbon dioxide in trapping heat within our atmosphere. 

    Food waste makes up 25% of waste in landfills but you can drastically reduce your contribution by starting your own composting system. There are loads of ways to get started but one of the easiest is the 'trenching' system. Simply collect all your food scraps in a separate container and when it's full, bury it in your garden bed around 15 - 20cm deep. 


    shopping for second-hand clothes

    In With The Old, Out With The New

    A cultural obsession with fast fashion has reduced the average garment life to months rather than years. In the United States, more than 25 billion pounds of clothing, shoes and accessories are thrown out every year. Much of this ends up rotting in a dump. Buying and selling pre-loved is an important part of conscious consumerism and changing the wasteful patterns of the fast fashion industry. 


    man kneading dough

    Make it yourself

    There is a tremendous amount of waste generated from ordering take away and delivery. With little incentive for the private sector to provide ecologically sustainable solutions, its often left with the customer to deal with huge amounts of packaging. Leaning to cook and become familiar with ingredients is one of the best ways to prevent waste and get all the nutrition you need in your diet.

    ]]> 2018-02-14T20:46:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:21:13+07:00 The Queen Bans Plastic Straws Thanks To David Attenborough Luke James More

    This means war!

    The battle against single-use plastic has just gained an unlikely ally in Queen Elizabeth II.

    The monarch has completely banned plastic bottles and plastic straws on royal estates after a meeting with one of the world's most famous naturalists and nature documentation. 

    The move was said to be inspired after the pair worked together on a documentary about wildlife in the Commonwealth according to an article in The Telegraph.

    A spokesman for the palace has said that the palace has a “strong desire to tackle the issue” and would do so by cutting back plastics, such as straws and plastic bottles.

    “Across the organization, the royal household is committed to reducing its environmental impact," he said. 

    As part of this, the palace is phasing out plastic straws in public cafes and banning them completely from staff dining areas. All packaging and containers will now be compostable or biodegradable and all the properties of Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroose House in Edinburgh will exclusively use glassware, crockery or recyclable cups. 

    The move follows a plan announced by the EU to make all plastic in Europe recyclable or reusable by 2030. 


    ]]> 2018-02-13T18:50:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:21:30+07:00 Why Bamboo Might Just Save The Planet Luke James More


    With depleting resources and the damage from years of pollution becoming more apparent every day, we take a closer look at just why bamboo is the most incredible plant on earth. 


    growth icon

    It Grows Like Crazy

    Bamboo is not actually a tree, but is, in fact, a grass, and one of the fastest growing grasses in the world at that. Some species grow as much as 1 foot per day. They reach maturity at 3 - 5 years, far faster than slow-growing hardwoods. making them ideal as a plantation crop.


    strong icon

    It's Insanely Strong

    In fact, bamboo may just be one of the strongest materials on the planet. It has a greater tensile strength (resistance to being pulled apart) than steel and withstands compression better than concrete. Simply put, it's one of the most versatile and durable natural resources on earth. 

    renewable icon

    A Truly Renewable Resource

    Due to its fast growth and the fact that it requires no replanting, bamboo is one of the great renewable resources. It's not unlike a grass (in fact it IS technically a grass!) When it is cut, it still keeps growing. This means that in order to harvest the bamboo you don't need to cut down the entire plant as bamboo keeps producing new shoots, providing a constant supply of poles. 


    plant icon

    It is the Ultimate Carbon Warrior

    It really is punching above its weight in the carbon stakes. Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide and produces 35% more oxygen than hardwood trees, making it crucial in stabilizing our planet's atmosphere. Using bamboo in products prevents the carbon from getting back into the atmosphere.


    tool icon

    It's the Swiss Army Knife of the Plant World

    Like that annoying friend that seems to do everything better, bamboo can replace wood for almost every application. It has been used for everything from food, paper, flooring, construction, medicine, weaponry and even as an aphrodisiac! What's more, bamboo fibers are much less likely to warp from atmospheric conditions. 


    money icon

    It Provides Economic Opportunities in Developing Countries

    Bamboo is a staple crop in many less developed countries. Production and the manufacturing of bamboo products provide job opportunities in areas that desperately need social and economic stability. 

    sun icon

    It's a Super-Plant 

    Bamboo is able to grow with minimal energy needs and has natural antimicrobial properties, meaning it has resistance to pests and fungi infestation. Unlike larger trees that require an abundance of sunlight to grow, bamboo requires little sun and uses it more efficiently. 


    We're pleased to be able to work with this wonder-plant and utilize its many benefits to help eradicate single-use plastic. 

    ]]> 2018-02-12T19:31:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:18:42+07:00 How to make the ultimate green smoothie Luke James More


    Smoothies are the current darlings of the global diet and beverage market, but all that glitters is not necessarily green. Many store-bought smoothies that claim to be good for weight loss have hidden high-calorie ingredients and added sugar.

    The best way to get only the benefits of smoothies is to make your own. Here’s everything you need to know to make the ultimate green smoothie. 



    Green smoothies contain lots of vegetables, typically featuring green leafy ones like spinach and kale.

    They’re loaded with antioxidants and are great for maintaining intestinal health. Green smoothies can be a satisfying, nutritious, and occasional meal replacement.



    Like anything in life, there is satisfaction in making your own smoothies and knowing how to make a green smoothie at home gives you a major advantage over the store-bought kind: ingredient control.

    Once you know how to make a green smoothie, you can have a quick, refreshing, and healthy snack or small meal whenever you want. And it’s easy to make smoothies for friends and family who want to make healthy food choices too.



    There are three main types of green smoothie ingredients: vegetables, fruit, and protein.The key to retaining the nutrients in smoothies is to use raw fresh or frozen vegetables.

    Start with fresh broccoli, spinach, carrots, kale, or celery to put the 'green' in 'green smoothie'. Some recipes call for tomato or vegetable juice but try to use these sparingly since they can contain high amounts of sugar and sodium.

    Fruit makes smoothies sweet. Common choices are blueberries, bananas, strawberries, oranges, and raspberries. Make sure the fruit is ripe before adding to a smoothie. If you want less sugar, you can use grapefruit and pomegranate as alternatives. 

    If you want to use a smoothie as a meal replacement, you'll need to add some protein. Plant-based protein powder is the most popular choice because it can enhance the flavor and texture of the smoothie but you can also use chia seeds, hemp hulls, ground flax, or plain Greek yogurt. “Milks” from almond, cashew, and soy are another great way to add protein.

    The healthy fat from avocado or coconut is also good if your green smoothie is your meal. The natural, healthy fats in these fruits and vegetables can help you feel full for longer. It also helps metabolize the fruit sugar more slowly, resulting in the body releasing less insulin.



    There is no shortage of recipes for how to make a green smoothie that can help you lose weight and get healthy. Get creative and try out a few different recipes, and be sure to adapt the ingredients or proportions based on how your taste buds and digestive tract react.

    Remember that variety is the spice of life too! By having a handful of awesome recipes up your sleeve you'll avoid your smoothie snack becoming boring!



    More ways your green smoothie can help you reach your weight loss goals:

    • Sip through a straw. It takes longer and gives your brain a chance to register the flavor and energy.
    • As a rule of thumb, use twice as many vegetables as fruit. Fruits have high levels of natural sugars. 
    • Make a batch and keep it for later. Most recipes will keep in the fridge for a day or two. 
    • If your favorite fruit is out of season, use frozen fruit instead. 

    Do you have tips for making green smoothies? Share them — along with your favorite recipes — in the comment box below!

    ]]> 2018-02-11T18:52:00+07:00 2020-03-23T07:19:56+07:00 How Bobo is having a whale of a time teaching kids about sustainability James Herald
    Non profit organization SANG are taking an unconventional approach to sustainability education, and it's having incredible results.


    The question of how best to teach kids about sustainability has finally been answered  - Bring an 11 meter, LED light adorned killer whale into the school’s playground and make art in its belly of course. 

    That's exactly what Sang Foundation have done, using ‘Bobo the Whale’ to raise awareness of the problems with single-use disposable plastic to the next generation. Through a series of engaging workshops and classes, they're challenging the next generation to combat the perils of plastic waste and help create cleaner seas. 

    teach kids about sustainability


    Named after the French word for 'pain', the enormous whale is hollow inside, allowing kids to enter into Bobo's belly where eager young learners spent time learning about the damage that plastic waste does and brainstorming ways to reduce it. They have taken the concept to Regent International School, Bangkok Pattana International School, the ASEAN Conference for Ocean Debris and most recently at St Andrews International. 


    The program focuses on simple steps that everyone can take like bringing bags to the supermarket and using your own water bottle or flask rather than buying plastic bottled water. Additionally, all students were given a reusable Bambew bamboo straw so they can say no to damaging single-use plastic straws now and into the future. 

    reusable Bambew bamboo straw


    Kids made plastic mobiles to hang inside Bobo so that people would understand just how much plastic waste ends up being consumed by marine life. Some estimates say that at least 100 million marine animals are killed each year from plastic pollution. The activity has helped inspire a new generation of kids on how to reduce their environmental impact.

    Kids made plastic mobiles


    Plastic is increasingly becoming a serious threat to both our environment and daily life. It is already a global problem but Thailand is one of the largest contributors to ocean-borne plastic waste. It’s great that groups like Sang Foundation are taking action to prevent further damage to our oceans and working towards a healthier, cleaner future for all the creatures that call this planet home.