Businesses urged to cut down on single-use plastics

PETALING JAYA: Businesses, especially food and beverage (F&B) firms, have been encouraged to come up with alternative ideas to reduce the usage of single-use plastics.

Deputy Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry (Mestecc) Minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis said F&B sectors must be bold enough to overcome any commercial challenges that they might face initially through innovative solutions to achieve the Zero Single Use Plastics by 2030.

The Zero Single Use Plastics is a landmark plan introduced by Mestecc in October 2018 to reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment.

“Mestecc views plastic waste as a serious issue. One way of managing it is to reduce the use of unnecessary single-use plastics and if need be, replace hydrocarbon-based plastic with biodegradable materials, ” Isnaraissah said after launching Tealive’s first strawless reusable bubble tea cup here yesterday.

Tealive, a lifestyle tea brand, launched its strawless bubble tea cup and glass tumbler with a pledge to reduce the use of single-use cups by 500,000 pieces a month next year.

The strawless reusable bubble tea cups will be available to the public by June when full production kicks in.

Isnaraissah welcomed Tealive’s initiative to reduce single-use plastics, adding that more companies should emulate the firm.

Asked if the ministry planned to provide incentives for companies in utilising single-use plastics in their businesses, she said this would be discussed.

She also said more consumers were aware of the impact of single-use plastics on the environment and hoped that more companies would offer their customers a choice to help reduce the usage of such plastics.

“Consumers should switch from using disposable plastic bags, containers and cutlery to bringing their own shopping bags, water tumbler or reusable cup, reusable straws, tiffin carriers and reusable utensils, ” she added.