Death to the Disposables!

NEWS

DEATH TO THE DISPOSABLES!

That seemingly innocuous straw popped into your drink; that plastic fork grabbed to eat a takeaway pasta-pot; a plastic bag used for a quick shop. All of these tiny contributions have the average ‘working life’ of about 15 minutes, but can and will take up to an alarming 1,000 years to degrade, and will never fully decompose. Together, these single-use plastics are amassing to one of the world’s greatest plights and a leading cause of destruction.

The state of the planet and all those who reside on it is the first and foremost concern when it comes to plastic pollution. Plastics now make up 85% of beach litter, and most scientists estimate that eight million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans each year - adding to the estimated 150 million metric tons currently circulating our oceans. In the UK alone, people who consume fish are likely to be ingesting around 11,000 plastic fragments a year, according to a recent Belgian study – an exposure which poses an unknown risk to human health.

"IN THE UK ALONE, PEOPLE WHO CONSUME FISH ARE LIKELY TO BE INGESTING AROUND 11,000 PLASTIC FRAGMENTS A YEAR"

- UNIVERSITY OF GHENT, BELGIUM

" IN 1950 THE WORLD PRODUCED ONLY 2 MILLION TONNES PER YEAR. BY 2015, ANNUAL PRODUCTION HAD INCREASED NEARLY 200-FOLD, REACHING 381 MILLION "

- OURWORLDINDATA.COM

Plastic pollution has an awful lot to answer for and reducing, reusing and recycling is something we’ve all been aware of for some time. Despite this, the known importance of these simple yet potentially world-saving choices has still not been enough for many big brands who could really make an enormous difference by making the necessary changes.

And we're not just talking about your local supermarket agreeing to charge 5 pence for a carrier bag. Why aren't the manufacturers of disposable plastics being prevented from doing so? Why are we so slow in finding alternatives?

It's Crunch Time

Single-use plastics are still alarmingly prevalent across pretty much all industries, with plastic cutlery being one of the worst offenders. According to the European Commission, plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks), plastic plates, plastic straws, plastic lids on soft-drinks and coffees, cotton bud sticks, beverage and food containers made of expanded polystyrene (such as fast food and takeaway boxes), and products made from oxo-degradable plastic constitute 70% of all marine litter items.

As a result, big changes (that we here at Studio William wholeheartedly welcome!) are finally being made by governments across the world.

On January 18th EU member states confirmed the provisional agreement reached between the presidency of the Council and the European Parliament on a new directive to introduce restrictions on certain single-use plastic products. In 2021 European citizens will say goodbye to plastic cutlery, plates and straws amongst other unnecessary items.

But while the demise of disposables is nigh, busy lifestyles requiring food and drink to go is on the rise. Dubbed the ‘Counter-Revolution’, which began as a humble supermarket sandwich selection, has broadened to an incredible variety of ready-to-eat international cuisine, set to be worth a whopping £23bn by 2022. Quick service restaurants have really come into their own too, offering those grabbing a bite on-the-go the option of treating themselves, speedily, to something just a little more indulgent. We eat at our desks, we pack lunches for the children every morning, we eat in the car or on the commute.

With this in mind, what’s the alternative to grabbing that loose plastic cutlery?

A growing number of takeaway eateries have already ditched the plastic and switched to a more sustainable and eco-friendly wooden source. However, for us, a throwaway wooden utensil just doesn’t cut it. Yes, unlike plastic wood can be disposed of in a more efficient and timely fashion, but what about production emissions? And forests being destroyed to meet this new demand? And, from a more selfish perspective, a badly designed piece of supposedly eco cutlery will seriously detract from what could otherwise be a delicious lunch. A number of consumers have taken to social media to discuss the rough texture of wooden knives, forks, and spoons, complaining of the "cringey" feel in their mouth, the lack of functionality and the splinters!

FORTUNATELY, THERE IS A BETTER WAY

We say, Death to the Disposables! Ditch them all together and instead, opt for high-quality cutlery that will last a lifetime and meet all of your food-to-go needs.

The famed Studio William ‘Spork’ is one of our finest creative dining solutions to date. The British picnic classic made good. This small spoon/fork is ideal for taking with you and tucking into your take-out lunch in a serious, eco-friendly style. Like all of our products it is made from premium 18/10 stainless steel and comes with a 30-day money back guarantee and 25-Year Warranty. And better yet, it is available in both adult and child sizes, so it's perfect for all the family.

If you want to go one step further and fully kit yourself out for a fabulous lunch on-the-go, our 3-piece personal dining sets, available in every design, make an excellent choice. They're perfect gifts too for friends and family, and the ultimate eco-friendly staff perk if you’re looking to cut costs and waste from your office canteen.

CAN YOU REALLY STAND BY AND DO NOTHING?

There's no denying that the effects of plastic pollution have been and continue to be devastating, and it may even be too late to reverse the damage already done. But it’s not too late to make a change from this very moment. By choosing quality over quantity and choosing to buy products that last, you are one step closer to a better world for all. And by choosing Studio William cutlery, your contribution extends to our own environmental commitments, whereby for every £200 in sales we will plant two trees with The International Tree Foundation.

"Each year, 8 million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean on top of
the estimated 150 million metric tons that currently circulate our
marine environments."
- OceanConservancy.com

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Death to the Disposables!

NEWS