Time to take a stand against single-use plastic
We are surrounded by plastics. To escape from plastics in our everyday life appears to be not only impossible but also unthinkable. We humans have embraced the ‘disposable lifestyle’ and our unable to dispose it.
Did you know that of the near 300 million tons of plastic produced annually, half is for single- use. Packaging is the largest end use market segment accounting for 40% of total plastic usage. More than one million plastic bags are used every minute and a plastic bag has an average “working life” of 15 minutes (the shortest use-life of plastic are the tear-off-hard-to-open plastic bags in supermarkets). Your ladies fingers goes in, and then when you reach home a few minutes later, it is thrown away. Estimates are that around 50% of plastic is used just once and thrown away. Our ‘throwaway’ culture includes plastic bottles and take- away coffee cups. 20% of all litter comes from beverage containers. Add lids and caps and the number is significantly higher.
In Seattle, USA, restaurants will no longer provide plastic straws and plastic utensils to its patrons from next year. Malibu, the trendy Californian city in Los Angeles County known for its stunning ocean views and sandy beaches, is taking a stand against single-use plastics. According to the Los Angeles Times, the City Council voted to ban nearly 70 restaurants and food vendors from selling or distributing plastic straws, stirrers and utensils to customers. The ban came into effect this June. Establishments will have to swap the plastic items for paper, wood or bamboo versions. Customers are also encouraged to bring their own reusable straws and cutlery."This is a community based on its ocean and beaches and we want to protect those," Craig George, the city's environmental sustainability director, told the Los Angeles Times."Individual cities have to decide how they're going to protect the earth," he said. "We've got to start somewhere. If we can start locally, that's the best place to start."
First no single-use plastic hotel launches in Asia
An environmental and social conscience is deeply rooted in the philosophy behind Akaryn Hotel Group’s Aleenta and akyra hotel brands with eco-led decisions and policies playing a central role in business development and hotel operations. Anchalika Kijkanakorn, founder and managing director of Akaryn Hotel Group wants this philosophy to extend even further into the guest experience at the soon-to-open akyra TAS Sukhumvit Bangkok.
“Our eco-friendly approach in Bangkok began by sourcing glass bottles and containers, with a commitment to no single-use plastic used in the restaurants or bars. The hotel will extend the initiative for guests on the go with stylish akyra stainless steel water bottles presented on arrival that can be refilled anytime during their stay,” she explained.
Self-service drinking water will be conveniently dispensed on every floor to make refills easy and guests can also take their bottles with them on excursions and shopping trip around the city. Bathroom amenities will be presented in locally manufactured “celadon” pottery containers filled with essential oil-based products. Bio-degradable bin bags will be used in all rooms and shopping bags will be available to encourage guests to refuse plastic bags when indulging in some Bangkok retail-therapy.
“Consumers are now more and more frequently seeking out responsible businesses that take care of our planet and we are proud to have been such a company since we first began operating some 15 years ago,” added Ms. Kijkanakorn.
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