With BBQ season upon us, win a set of eco-friendly, reusable straws from The Silicone Straw Company

The Silicone Straw Company founder Charlotte Walsh and her family live in a picture-postcard village in the Yorkshire Dales and love to spend sunny days down by the river with their children, picnicking, paddling and BBQing on long lazy days.

It sounds idyllic, but Charlotte noticed one downside to her pastoral paradise: “It’s beautiful, but sometimes the aftermath isn’t. Plastic bottles, coffee cups, sandwich wrappers and plastic straws wash downstream, a reminder of the everyday single-use plastics that we use and discard on a daily basis. Seeing the impact these have on our beautiful area got me thinking – how could I use my 15 years of manufacturing experience to make being green that little bit easier?”

The answer came in the form of a convenient alternative to single-use plastic straws. Silicone Straw Company’s products are beautifully simple in design and made using the highest quality food-grade silicone here in the UK. While some companies outsource their eco production to China, Charlotte opted to keep things here in the UK. It’s better for the environment and the local economy – ensuring she promotes sustainable living while controlling our ethical impact too.

Silicone straws are reusable, which not only saves you money in the long run, but it also helps reduce the amount of plastic waste in our environment. It’s estimated that 4.7 billion single-use straws are consumed in the UK every year. That’s approximately 150 straws per person in the UK. By using a reusable silicone straw, you can help reduce this number.

Another benefit of silicone straws is that they are durable and long-lasting, and unlike their paper cousins they definitely won’t go soggy after two minutes! Since 2020’s single-use plastic straw ban in England cafés, bars and restaurants have largely switched to paper straws. These are better for the environment as they don’t leach microplastics, but they are not so good for the user as they degrade readily and become soggy.

Silicone can withstand heat, and unlike paper and plastic straws they don’t easily break or become warped when used with hot drinks. The silicone straws can withstand high temperatures and are virtually unbreakable. This means you can use them for hot and cold drinks. The straw can withstand the heat and wont transfer heat.

Silicone straws are also very easy to clean. Unlike other types of straws that can be difficult to clean, silicone straws can be easily washed by hand in hot soapy water with a small cleaning brush or in the dishwasher. This makes them perfect for busy families or people who are always on the go.

They can bend, but will never kink. So you can enjoy sipping sustainably from all angles. This is particularly useful for those who need help drinking or who have a limited range of movement. These straws can be used for people lay horizontally.

Finally, silicone straws are safe and non-toxic. Unlike some plastic straws that can contain harmful chemicals and toxins, silicone straws are made from food-grade silicone that is BPA-free and free from other harmful chemicals. This means you can enjoy your favourite drinks without worrying about any negative effects.

Silicone Straw Company’s straws also fit into a handy little travel tin, so you can take the straws out and about with you. Once used the wet straw can be placed back in tin before cleaning it at home.

Charlotte concludes: “Silicone straws are a fantastic alternative to single-use plastic straws. They are reusable, durable, easy to clean, safe for you and the planet and made in the UK. So why not make the switch to silicone straws today and join us in our mission to reduce plastic waste and create a more sustainable future?”

Check out the full range at www.thesiliconestrawcompany.co.uk.

 

*NB Summer 2024’s competition has now closed