Restrictions on single-use plastic straws and a ban on stirrers and cotton buds has come into force in England today, in line with the EU SUP Directive and the UK Government Waste and Resource Strategy, The Environmental Protection (Plastic Straws, Cotton Buds and Stirrers) (England) Regulations 2020.

Delayed from its original implementation date of April 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the measure will ban all plastic stirrers and restrict the use of single use plastic straws, with exemption only for medical use. The exemptions on straws will allow hospitals, bars and restaurants to provide plastic straws to people with disabilities or medical conditions that require them.

Bunzl Catering Supplies has been helping its customers prepare for this directive for some time with the provision of factual advice and viable product alternatives as part of its Sustainable Future programme.  A recently updated factsheet, issued in August to Bunzl Catering Supplies customers and on the business’s market-leading INNOVATE blog, explains the new regulations and exemptions and outlines a number of paper and bamboo straw alternatives.

As paper drinking straws will not be banned under The Environmental Protection Regulations 2020, they are a viable alternative to traditional plastic straws. Made from renewable resources and manufactured in the UK, paper straws from Bunzl Catering Supplies remain unsaturated for up to 2 hours.

With the increasing discussion on straw alternatives in the hospitality sector, Bamboo straws are an interesting option. Bamboo is a very fast-growing crop, with strong short fibres perfect for some paper-based products. Bunzl Catering Supplies has just launched a range of sustainable bamboo straws from manufacturer ‘The Cheeky Panda’.  FSC certified, vegan certified by The Vegan Society and BRC grade A certified, bamboo straws are strong and do not go soggy in use.

For more information about the new restrictions and bans on straws, stirrers and cotton buds please contact today – or click here to view our Sustainable Future factsheet on straws.