Countdown Removing Straws from shelf - more plastic targeting

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nzkiwiman

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# 240886 1-Oct-2018 11:48

I was looking around Google News when I spotted an article on NZH regarding Countdown removing plastic straws from the shelf (URL)

While I can understand "all the plastic hate" at the moment, I had to ask myself - where do the straws end up when they are removed from the shelf? Does the company take them back and remanufacture them into something else, does Countdown put them into the bin or something else.

I also had to ask myself - if I need a straw - what are my options now?
Do Countdown sell other types of straws, or do I have to go find a supermarket that still stocks plastic one?

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# 2099297 1-Oct-2018 12:11

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We've purchased stainless steel straws - they're pretty cheap on sites like Ali and eBay, and come with a cleaning brush.

While I'm sure some will argue the merits of these (given the energy to produce and ship them etc), I'm happy with the purchase - for some reason our kids love using straws, and we saw this as an easy change to make.

skewt

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# 2099301 1-Oct-2018 12:23

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The ODT version of this (nearly identical) article also has the line..

"The company would replace plastic straws with a range of alternatives including bamboo, metal and paper straws."

Unsure why the herald would opt to leave that out but it seems important..

https://www.odt.co.nz/business/last-straw-countdown-pulls-plastic-straws-shelves

mdooher

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# 2099313 1-Oct-2018 12:49

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Hmm, metal straws...what could possibly go wrong?

Matthew

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# 2099327 1-Oct-2018 13:20

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skewt:

The ODT version of this (nearly identical) article also has the line..

"The company would replace plastic straws with a range of alternatives including bamboo, metal and paper straws."

Unsure why the herald would opt to leave that out but it seems important..

https://www.odt.co.nz/business/last-straw-countdown-pulls-plastic-straws-shelves

which i guarantee will be sold in plastic wrapping of some sort.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

mattwnz

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# 2099359 1-Oct-2018 14:08

mdooher:

Hmm, metal straws...what could possibly go wrong?

Keeping them clean would be one issue. I have something that has a stainless tube, and it is very difficult to the the inner side of the tube clean without using a pipe cleaner.

Rikkitic

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# 2099394 1-Oct-2018 14:14

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I grew up in the 1950s. It was a time of drug store (milk bar) culture for young people. We got by perfectly well with paper straws. What is the big deal?

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

mdooher

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# 2099416 1-Oct-2018 14:27

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mattwnz:

mdooher:

Hmm, metal straws...what could possibly go wrong?

Keeping them clean would be one issue. I have something that has a stainless tube, and it is very difficult to the the inner side of the tube clean without using a pipe cleaner.

Yeah I'm thinking of "child with stainless steel straw in mouth trips while drinking a milkshake" sort of thing. When I was young I fell over with a pen in my mouth, much blood, much yelling by Mother...If it had been a stainless steel straw I doubt I would be writing this now

Matthew

MikeB4

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# 2099418 1-Oct-2018 14:30

mdooher:

mattwnz:

mdooher:

Hmm, metal straws...what could possibly go wrong?

Keeping them clean would be one issue. I have something that has a stainless tube, and it is very difficult to the the inner side of the tube clean without using a pipe cleaner.

Yeah I'm thinking of "child with stainless steel straw in mouth trips while drinking a milkshake" sort of thing. When I was young I fell over with a pen in my mouth, much blood, much yelling by Mother...If it had been a stainless steel straw I doubt I would be writing this now

That is a very good point. I think they should be replaced with only paper straws.

Mike
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networkn

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# 2099505 1-Oct-2018 15:45

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MikeB4:

That is a very good point. I think they should be replaced with only paper straws.

Eww my God, I can't think of many things I'd rather less put in my mouth. The texture is repulsive.

Fred99

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# 2099532 1-Oct-2018 17:01

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networkn:

MikeB4:

That is a very good point. I think they should be replaced with only paper straws.

Eww my God, I can't think of many things I'd rather less put in my mouth. The texture is repulsive.

Why would an adult want to put a straw in their mouth anyway?

I got put off straws when I was a kid. Sucking on a thick shake, I thought some ice cream was blocking the end, sucked harder and got a mouth full of blowfly.

andrewNZ

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# 2099554 1-Oct-2018 17:32

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That is both disgusting and damn funny

Location: Dunedin

networkn

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# 2099555 1-Oct-2018 17:33

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Fred99:

Why would an adult want to put a straw in their mouth anyway?

A thickshake?

Sans the blowfly.

Gurezaemon

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# 2099559 1-Oct-2018 17:38

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Rikkitic:

I grew up in the 1950s. It was a time of drug store (milk bar) culture for young people. We got by perfectly well with paper straws. What is the big deal?

I vote we go with straws made out of ivory. After all, they're both natural and renewable.

DarthKermit

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# 2099561 1-Oct-2018 17:42

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Another token gesture from the grocery industry. I briefly worked at a Countdown distribution centre a number of years ago.

All that conveniently packaged stuff we buy from supermarkets is delivered to said supermarkets on pallets that are spun around on a machine and tightly wrapped with a lot of plastic shrink wrap. That shrink wrap goes in the rubbish after its one use.

TinyTim

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# 2099573 1-Oct-2018 18:01

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DarthKermit:

Another token gesture from the grocery industry. I briefly worked at a Countdown distribution centre a number of years ago.

All that conveniently packaged stuff we buy from supermarkets is delivered to said supermarkets on pallets that are spun around on a machine and tightly wrapped with a lot of plastic shrink wrap. That shrink wrap goes in the rubbish after its one use.

But it doesn't end up in the environment, which is what the bag/straw issue is. Take them outside, have a picnic, take them to the beach etc and they can easily end up in the water (and hence fish) - which is what a lot of recent publicity has been about.

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