BOW VALLEY – Kym MacKinnon wanted to build a product that didn’t suck for the environment, so she and her husband fired up the kiln and made one.
Using borosilicate glass, Bow Valley Straws seeks to provide a reusable alternative to drink and forget style straws.
Borosilicate glass is shatter and thermal resistant, as well as hypoallergenic. MacKinnon also sells a cleaning tool online, so users can easily remove any drink residue
Sold on Etsy.com and costing under $10 a straw, the straws can be custom created to a specified length or with decorative dotting, with bends optional. MacKinnon says people have already displayed interest in the environmentally friendly product.
“I’ve had some orders placed already, lots of interest in the first couple of weeks,” said MacKinnon. “There’s so many benefits. With throw-away ones, there’s so many drawbacks. Sometimes the colouring can have toxins and they only last for one drink.”
According to MacKinnon, Vancouver’s push to ban single use plastics was a huge motivator and inspiration for why she decided to create Bow Valley Straws.
With the Bow Valley playing host to thousands of tourists every year, MacKinnon believes it’s time businesses in the region look closely at alternatives to traditional throwaways. The switch to glass was the first step in rethinking the way she thought about throwaway plastic, according to MacKinnon.
“For me, when I started using a glass straw, I found myself rethinking all my single use plastics … It’s really helped me be more conscious about it.”
Bow Valley Straws can be found on Etsy, Facebook, Instagram, and various summer markets.
