WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE BAN
Below is an exhaustive list of items that are currently included in the upcoming ban. However, the QLD Government has announced that this list will continue to grow in phase two which is scheduled for 2022.
- Expanded polystyrene takeaway food containers and cups.
- Plates and bowls including single-use expanded polystyrene plates
- Straws: regular straws, flexible straws, straws with a scoop, cocktail straws and bubble tea straws
- Stirrers: hot or cold drink stirrers, swizzle sticks and hot or cold food stirrers
- Plates and bowls including single-use expanded polystyrene plates
- Cutlery: knives, forks, spoons, teaspoons, sample tasting spoons, soup spoons, chopsticks, splayds and sporks
- With more items such as plastic containers and coffee cups likely to be added in the near future.
WHY THE PLASTIC BAN IS IMPORTANT FOR QUEENSLANDERS
With over half of plastic items designed to be only used once, then thrown away, this disposable culture is putting increasing pressure on our beautiful Queensland environment, with over
130,000 tonnes of plastic finding its way into our waterways, oceans and reef - reducing the quality and health of these ecosystems. This targeted upstream change will work to reduce a significant area of plastic production, use and waste, shifting businesses and consumers to a more reusable mind state, helping to look
after our unique environment and the state's $28 billion dollar tourism industry .
WHO WILL BE AFFECTED
This is a state wide ban, meaning
most businesses in Queensland will be affected, including; supermarkets, cafes, hotels, takeaway food shops, restaurants, etc. However customers will also be affected, as this will require behavioural changes on their part - shifting away from single use plastic products and procedures.
There are a few
exceptions to the ban, specifically in the health care industry that still need to access single use items, including: clinics or facilities that provide care to persons with a disability or health needs, hospitals, dental clinics, medical clinics, pharmacies, aged care facilities and medical suppliers.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS A BUSINESS
As a business you need to
start looking for ways to phase out these products, keeping in mind that this list of banned items will only continue to grow into the future – so it’s better to look beyond the basic requirements, assessing your overarching use of single-use and plastic items, considering how your business could become more sustainable.
POTENTIAL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
There are
three main types of items (listed below) which could replace the current items your business uses on the banned list, each with their own pro’s & con’s and varying levels of sustainability. As mentioned, the number of banned single-use items will only continue to grow into the future, meaning that switching to non-plastic reusable products, offers the most sustainable, long term solution. These products are not only the
most sustainable solution, they can
transform an expense into a revenue stream - being sold directly to customers at your POS.
