Major Pub Chain Turns To British Recycled Plastic for Solution to Plastic Problem
You may have seen in the news that JD Wetherspoon, one of the UK’s biggest and best-recognised pub chains, recently decided to remove plastic straws from all of its 900+ outlets in the UK. This is, of course, wonderful news for the many natural environments which are threatened by the choking presence of waterborne plastics, but it left them with a problem: what to do with all the unused straws in their warehouse? For a while it seemed like landfill would be the only option, but then an alternative was suggested; what about reusing them to make something useful? In fact, how about pub garden tables?
The transformation of JD Wetherspoon’s waste straws into durable outdoor seating demonstrates a growing trend in the hospitality industry’s commitment to sustainability. According to research from Surfers Against Sewage, approximately 11 million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans annually, making initiatives like this crucial for protecting marine environments that many pub-goers love to visit on seaside breaks. The shift towards sustainable pub garden furniture has become increasingly important as establishments recognise their environmental responsibility, and UK Parliament research shows that domestic plastic recycling has significantly increased in recent years, overtaking exports for the first time in almost two decades. By choosing to recycle their unused straws into durable beer garden furniture rather than sending them to landfill, Wetherspoon has created a perfect example of the circular economy in action. Turning yesterday’s waste into tomorrow’s place to enjoy a pint in the sunshine.
The raw material: black plastic straws originally destined to end up in landfill, oceans and rivers.
The Boss heard there would be beer…
Of course outdoor recycled furniture is our forte and we like an opportunity to keep pubs happy (you never know how they might show their gratitude), and so it seemed a match made in heaven. Our Managing Director Jason offered to escort them personally to be ground up to make new plastic lumber. We reckon he’s just angling for a pint on the house, but either way he got the job done, and even managed to film the whole process. You can see him and the straws in action here on our Youtube channel.
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The finished product: recycled plastic picnic tables, ideal for pub beer gardens.
If you’d like to know more about recycled plastic picnic tables, you can find our range here.
