Straws, the hard-to-recycle plastic are on average used for just 20 minutes and, once disposed of, can spend several hundreds of years in a landfill site. The Alchemist, a premium bar and restaurant which now has 10 sites across the UK, is taking a stand by declaring a ‘war on straws’ by vowing to ditch the plastic pests for good this month.
Despite its dark and mysterious guise, molecular mixology operator, The Alchemist, has a caring heart; with communities and local surroundings being at the forefront of its mind. The initiative might be small, but it has a huge environmental impact. Over the past 25 years disposable straws have routinely been one of the top ten items found on beaches around the world during the International Coastal clean-up project. With cultural norm suggesting that most drinks served have a straw accompanying them, it’s no surprise that The Alchemist will save an estimated 2 million straws from going to landfill this year alone!
Managing Director of The Alchemist, Simon Potts says: “Most straws are not recyclable, yet many bars and restaurants relentlessly provide these for customers, sometimes even two at a time. We want to educate and engage with our customers about the environmental impact of ditching straws, and I’m sure our customers will welcome it with open arms. Straws are still available upon request; however they will not be served as standard and this little change is going to save The Alchemist an estimated 2 million straws per year.”
“We are absolutely focused on decreasing our environmental impact wherever possible, which is why initiatives such as ‘war on straws’ are so important to us as we evolve as a brand. And we hope other operators follow in our footsteps.”
In 2017 the premium operator achieved a place in the ‘Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For’ list. As part of their ethos of small details making a big difference; The Alchemist regularly works with their staff on training and engagement to ensure its impact inside and outside the bar is good for the community. Through various schemes including the ‘currency of kindness’ programme sites are each given 4 shifts off per month, which are used for various local charity initiatives.
For more information click here