Why did you choose Bali to harvest bamboo from? 

We had a series of potential suppliers lined up around the world, however, we wanted to find the right partner who thought about things the same way we did and who wanted to make a long term difference, not a quick buck. Herman and his team are just as passionate about bamboo as we are as well as about reducing plastic waste, finding greener alternatives and they are constantly thinking up new ways to improve our products and try to make new ones! 

What size are your straws?

We generally advise a diameter between 0.04mm-0.06mm and 22cm length for a normal straw (industry standards in size and diameter) or 13cm for a cocktail straw (or for kids!).

Thicker straw diameters are available for smoothies, juices or on request. 

Can we reuse our bamboo straws?

Our straws can always be reused (just boil to clean although bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial!). They will even survive if you pop them in the dishwasher! They can also be thrown away after one use; they are an eco-friendly option, 100% natural and will compost or biodegrade, unlike plastic or even paper! 

What's so great about bamboo anyway? 

bamboo is a grass, not a tree.  Under the right conditions, it can grow a full meter a day — you can literally watch it grow.   It is also fast maturing.   A new bamboo plant is mature enough to harvest after three to six years, depending on the species.   Most important, bamboo is renewable.   Unlike hardwood trees, bamboo regrows after harvesting, just as grass regrows after cutting.  After it is mature, bamboo can be harvested every single year for the life of the plant.

Bamboo has other advantages.  Its roots grab onto soil and hold it fast.   Plant bamboo on a steep slope or riverbank and it prevents mudslides and erosion. 

What else can it do?

Sorry you've got us onto our favourite topic: Bamboo has super strength making it a good construction material, used for furniture, flooring and textiles (and our straws of course).   Paradoxically, harvesting bamboo to make durable goods is greener than not harvesting bamboo.  Here’s why: bamboo culms — the poles — do not live as long as hardwood trees, usually up to a decade. When an old culm decays, it releases carbon into the atmosphere. (The root system, which hold 30 to 40 percent of its carbon, last much longer.) This means that an untouched bamboo forest is a poor carbon sink. The best way to turn bamboo into an excellent carbon sink is to put it to work — harvest the bamboo to make durable products before it starts its decay. Treated bamboo flooring or furniture will last as long as wood, storing its carbon the whole time. (Naturally of course, we are always sensitive to planting/replanting, farming cycles, and all of the environmental impacts both locally and on a bigger scale)