Punch becomes latest pubco to stop using straws

By Georgina Townshend

- Last updated on GMT

Committed: Punch is the latest pubco to turn its back on single-use straws
Committed: Punch is the latest pubco to turn its back on single-use straws

Related tags Plastic straws Waste Public house

Punch has become the latest pubco to join the war against plastic straws by eliminating their use across its 70-strong retail pub estate, while encouraging its circa 1,200 leased and tenanted pubs to follow suit.

list​ of plastic straw alternatives:

1) Biodegradable ‘plastic’ or polylactic acid
2) Metal
3) Straw straws
4) Bamboo
5) Glass
6) Paper
7) Go naked

Punch has committed to no longer serving drinks with plastic straws unless requested, and will also remove plastic straws from customer view to reduce usage, it said.

The pub company is also in the process of researching suitable recyclable and re-usable alternatives which it hopes to introduce in due course.

Harm sea-life

Punch’s managing director of operations, Paul Pavli, explained: “Plastic straws can take a shocking 500 years to decompose and generally end up in landfill or make their way into our oceans where they can harm sea-life.

"Alongside a number of our peers in the industry, we are absolutely committed to reducing the use of damaging plastic straws in our retail pubs and will also be encouraging our circa 1,200 leased and tenanted publicans to join the campaign and benefit from training material and POS to make consumers aware of this very important cause.”

Last week, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Kate Nicholls said the pub industry was "ready to lead the way"​ on reducing plastic waste, praising pub companies which have already stopped the use of straws.

In December, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee called on the Government to introduce strict regulations for all public premises that serve food or drink​ to cut down on plastic wastage and to provide free drinking water on request.

The call came as part of the EAC's report Plastic Bottles: Turning Back the Plastic Tide​​, which said plastic bottles make up a third of all plastic pollution in the sea, and that if marine plastic pollution continues to rise at its current rate, the amount of plastic in the sea will outweigh fish by 2050.

Pub companies that have already banned plastic straws:

  • JD Wetherspoon
  • Liberation Group
  • Oakman Inns
  • All Bar One
  • Laine Pub Co
  • Redcomb Pubs
  • Be At One

Related topics Punch Pubs & Co

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