More than Plastic Straws
We've heard a lot about plastic waste over the last few years- the threats to our oceans, the impact on sea life. But with whales still washing up on shore with hundreds of kilos of plastic in their bellies, the continued use of disposable plastics paints a pretty grim picture at the moment. We believe there's hope, because we've seen a movement start to build already.
Credit: The National Geographic
Since 2015, The Last Straw has been leading the way in changing habits and behaviors around plastic use, from big chains, to corner shops. to the everyday customer. We've asked people to do the less convenient thing by using an straw alternative or, where possible, just not using one at all. The response has been incredible, but there's so much more still to do.
The passion and dedication of this community has inspired us to start a new platform, widening our focus from just straws to the wider picture of sustainable travel. With more people traveling for work or for leisure than ever before, we need to start looking at how to best minimise the impact of disposables on the beautiful places that we're visiting. Recently we've seen closures of tourist spots like Maya Bay in Thailand because of the effects of mass irresponsible tourism which has resulted in pollution and the destruction of corals.*
Take to the Road will affect change in three key ways:
1. Creating a community of like-minded people with a passion for travel, or who travel often, to crowdsource and share sustainable travel hacks, through the mediums of writing, photography or video.
2. Curating the best sustainable travel providers as preferred suppliers on our website, and supplying out own high quality sustainable travel products, helping you choose the best option when planning travel.
3. Rethinking the way we pack and what we bring with us when we travel, eliminating the need for disposable plastic products, especially travelling in areas significantly impacted by plastic waste. We'll do this through promoting the use and normalising of BYO products like cutlery, containers, water bottles, produce bags, straws.
Our goal is to use profits to support locally led initiatives in plastic affected areas.
It's time to change our behaviours and habits when it comes to travel, from planning and booking all the way through to returning home. Take to the Road is about encouraging that change by providing reusable alternatives to common disposables, stories and experiences of responsible travel tips and new innovations in transport and fuel that will begin to minimise the damage from unsustainable travel.
We're running a matched crowdfunding campaign, and only need to raise $5000 to reach out target of $10,000. Any support will greatly help us to make this happen.
