Canada all set to ban single-use plastic by the end of 2021. Switch to edible straws now!

Canada all set to ban single-use plastic by the end of 2021. Switch to edible straws now!

In a world suffocating under plastic, where big companies do what’s best for them and ignore the future of mankind, Canada has carved its route towards a greener future by announcing plans to ban single-use plastics by the end of 2021. You’ll want to get our edible straws now if you haven’t already, so you’re prepared when the ban comes into effect!

At Flewid Friendly, we’re a team of ecologically-conscious individuals who work hard towards making the world a sustainable, plastic-free space. Today, we’ll discuss the upcoming plastic ban, and what it means for the world.

Details of the ban

Here’s everything you need to know about the ban in order to be prepared.

When is it going into effect?

We don’t have an exact date yet, but the ban will go into effect across the country by the end of 2021.

What’s included?

Checkout bags, cutlery, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings and some food packaging.

Here are some items that are not included: milk bags, garbage bags, cigarette filters, snack wrappers, disposable personal care items, beverage containers and lids, PPE, medical items, and contact lenses.

Why aren’t all single-use plastics getting banned?

While it would help tons with the plastic problem, banning all single-use plastics isn’t practical because some items don’t have good alternatives, some others serve an essential purpose (like the packaging on chips), and because there aren’t any good recycling options available for others.

What will this ban achieve?

Reduced plastic waste, for one. The ban is a part of Canada’s goal to have no plastic waste by 2030. This means that most plastics are either eliminated, or recycled.

Why reducing plastic usage is necessary

In a nutshell, it’s because plastic is a convenient material that all of us use in our everyday lives, and so use-and-throw items really add up. Currently, we don’t have efficient ways of recycling plastic, and there isn’t much demand for recycled plastic. However, scientists are working on this problem, and in the meantime, we need to reduce our usage of this material, and reuse when we can. Let’s look at some statistics:

• Over 3 million tons of plastic waste is thrown away every year in Canada. This is equivalent to dumping twenty garbage trucks full of plastic waste into the ocean every minute!
• Less than 10% of the country’s plastic trash is recycled. That means 90% of the trash is dumped into landfills, or the sea.
• 3 billion disposable plastic bags are used in Canada every year
• In Canada alone, over 57 million single-use plastic straws are thrown away everyday
• Nearly 700 species of marine animals are harmed by this plastic. Of this total, at least 15% marine creatures are endangered.
• Roughly 90% of new plastic is made from fossil fuels – a non-renewable resource
• Recycling 1 ton of plastic prevents up to 2 tons of carbon emissions Staggered by these numbers? We certainly were – which is why we created our eco-friendly edible straws. They’re easy to use, and they don’t harm our beautiful turtles and whales. Our products come in biodegradable packaging, so you can throw it into the trash without guilt.

Will you be affected?

If you and your business use the items that will be banned, you will probably be affected. However, the term is relative, since there are plenty of alternatives. If you prefer disposable plastic products over reusable or biodegradable ones (because of how it feels, or how it affects the taste of a drink, for example), you’ll need to slowly adjust to the change.

As for businesses, since they’ve had plenty of notice, by the time the ban goes into effect, most (if not all) of them will have come up with alternatives. They might include recyclable plastics, reusable containers, providing edible straws, or not providing certain items (like plastic forks and spoons). So your business isn’t likely to be affected much. However, if you’ve been wanting to making the switch to more sustainable materials, now’s the time to do it! Better today than tomorrow.

So to summarize: Yes, you will be affected – perhaps even if you don’t use the items being banned, because decisions like these have far-reaching effects. However, no matter whether you’re an individual or a business, and regardless of your habits and preferences, you won’t be affected much. Unlike our environment, which’ll feel the effects of tons of plastic not being flung at it.

How to prepare for the ban?

Whether you’re a business owner or a simple individual who likes Starbucks coffee, you can prepare for the ban by making some changes in your life that reduce plastic usage, and effectively do now what the ban will do later. Here are some tips:

1.Buy edible straws

We sell straws that you can eat, and they’re 100% vegan and gluten-free! They can be used by anyone, and they don’t hurt the environment in any way. They decompose quickly, and don’t hurt animals or sea creatures, and they don’t leech toxic chemicals into the soil either. Get used to edible straws so they don’t feel alien when you need to use them later.

2.Reusable bags

Disposable plastic bags will no longer be available, so switch to reusable bags now! They’re wonderful once you start using them. They’re a lot more comfortable, sturdier, less likely to tear, you can get them in a design you like, and businesses can advertise on cloth bags. It’s done on plastic bags, but you can actually sell cloth bags for a reasonable price.

3.Get paper bags

Some things will need a second bag of some sort – for example, if you buy fresh produce. You don’t want it rolling around in the bag with your bathroom supplies and the fertilizer for your plants. So, say hello to paper bags. They’re eco-friendly, affordable, and they’re satisfyingly tidy. If you like to keep things neat and compartmentalized, grab a few before heading to the grocery store.

4.Buy reusable cutlery (or sit down to eat!)

Takeout is convenient if you’re going to be eating on the road, but if you can spare the time, it’s nice to sit down and eat a proper meal. If you’re eating at home, there’s no excuse for it – use your own cutlery. And if you often go to restaurants that often provide plastic cutlery, carry reusable cutlery with you. Some types can be disassembled after use, so they take up very little space in your bag.

These were ways in which you (as an individual) can prepare for the ban. Businesses will need to find alternatives and places that sell them, and evaluate which ones make the most sense for their business. If you want to go one step further, take the leap and go plastic-free! We made edible straws with the goal of eventually creating alternatives to some of the worst offenders, and we’re with you all the way! Go through our blog archives to find more ideas.

Other places that have shunned the use of disposable plastic

Many cities, counties, states and countries have banned plastic bags, straws and other disposables. These include the Canadian town of Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, and American cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Mexico City, and Portland.

Certain states in Australia and India have banned plastic bags, and the US states of Hawaii and North Carolina have too. Italy, China, and various African countries (including South Africa, Kenya and the Congo) have banned these bags nationwide.

Plastic straws have been banned in Seattle, Washington D.C., and NYC. In addition, major companies such as Starbucks, McDonald’s, Alaska Airlines, and Bon Appetit Management have also taken steps in this direction.

Other countries that are taking steps against the plastic problem include France, the UK, New Zealand, Morocco, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Buy edible straws from Flewid Friendly!

We’re an Ottawa-based company that makes edible straws. These are pasta-like straws made with rice flour and cassava flour. You can use these in hot and cold drinks, whether thick or watery. They won’t dissolve, disintegrate or get soft. These straws can last a fairly long time in hot drinks, and once you complete your drink, if the straw is soft, you can go ahead and eat it – or give it to your pet as a treat.

We realize the problems plastic causes, and we want to help control the problem, little by little. There are other companies out there selling eco-friendly straws, but ours are different since they’re edible, and they’re gluten-free, BPA-free, and non-GMO. They can be used by everyone, and they aren’t a hassle. You don’t have to carry them home to wash them, and you don’t have to find a place to throw them (just eat them or give them to the birds).

Switch over from plastic straws and help us beat the plastic problem. You get a discount if you order 5 or more boxes, so stock up your kitchen for the holiday season. Our rice straws are perfectly safe for elders, kids, pets, and everyone else, so everyone in the family can use them.