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We are Choice Refreshments, and we’ve been providing schools with hydration solutions for over 20 years, and have extensive experience working within education facilities. We’re passionate about offering our customers products that meet their needs and are safe, durable and cost-effective, as well as giving an excellent customer experience and expert advice in every instance.

We provide schools with high-quality, safe and durable high-volume water coolers, as well as machines to provide hot water, coffees and other hot beverages to our customers. High-volume water coolers are ideal for providing students with healthy and convenient drinks options at a low cost, while our coffee machines are perfect for increasing value for staff and other stakeholders.

High Volume Water Coolers

Encouraging Healthy Choices for Staff and Students

Drinking more water and less fizzy drinks and drinks with considerable amounts of added sugar is not only good for the overall health and diet of students, but it has been shown that drinks with added sugar reduce concentration in students, and switching to a water-only policy is linked to improved academic achievement. Even simply reducing the options for fizzy and sugary drinks, while providing efficient and easy ways for students to drink more water can contribute greatly to increased water consumption and decreased consumption of fizzy drinks and juices.

Our coolers also help manage waste and reduce the carbon footprint of your school by encouraging the use of reusable bottles and decreasing the amount of single-use plastic that is thrown away by both staff and students.

At Choice Refreshments, we specialise in high-volume, efficient water cooler systems that offer students and staff convenient options when it comes to increasing water consumption. High-volume water coolers have been shown to massively reduce costs for schools, with large coolers costing providers around £1 per student per year.

Low Maintenance, High Volume

Our team of education specialists know that it’s not just about making healthy choices when it comes to hydration in schools, it’s about convenience. Our coolers are not only high volume (we have options from 20-180 litres available), they are also fast and efficient, to prevent queues and congestion in high-footfall areas and make water a faster and more appealing choice to users, increasing consumption overall.

Our Process

At Choice Refreshments, we believe in providing a complete service to our customers, from the very first enquiry, through quotation, installation and continuing with regular maintenance from our team. Not only does this make life as simple as possible for you, it means that your maintenance staff don’t have to use time and resources to service or repair your new coolers. The Choice Refreshments team will carry out regular servicing and can quickly send an engineer to fix any issues without hassle or fuss.

Our team of experts always carry out in-depth site surveys before putting together a quote. This allows us to understand your school’s needs and to help identify the best locations and the number of coolers needed for your school or facility. We’ll take the time to understand the layout of your building or buildings, and how staff and students use the facilities available to them. This way we are able to identify the optimum locations for coolers that will be convenient without creating congestion.

We also identify any areas that aren’t appropriate for coolers due to health and safety, as spillage and slips are always issues that we work to negate as far as possible with our coolers. We can do this through cooler placement and design to continuously improve the safety of the educational establishments we work with.

Then, our team of expert installers will begin to safely install your coolers with minimal interruption to your day-to-day operations. All of our installers and engineers are CRB checked to ensure safety and prevent any administrative difficulties for our customers. We can also work outside of regular school hours to remove disruption to students entirely and improve the efficiency of the installation process.

We are incredibly flexible in our offering, so whether you want to buy your coolers and maintain them in-house or lease them, we can work to accommodate your needs. When you lease our machines, regular service and maintenance is included as standard, and we can provide engineers to carry out repairs quickly and efficiently at any time.

If you want to move, remove or upgrade your coolers at any time, our team will also carry this out to save you time and money.

Coffee Machines & Hot Water

At Choice Refreshments, we understand that in the modern world, schools aren’t just educational institutions and that there are business needs behind every school. At Choice Refreshments, we offer a wide variety of options to help your institution provide hot drinks, hot water and other beverages to stakeholders beyond students. Whether you want to increase value in rented spaces, create a more hospitable experience for visitors or simply want to be able to provide hot beverages for staff, we offer many options to ensure your needs are met.

Like our water coolers, Choice Refreshments will supply, install and maintain hot drinks machines for as long as you need, saving you time, money and resources, as well as ensuring the safety of users and maintenance staff. Our team always take the time to understand your needs and can recommend the best products for your needs based on discussions with your business and our own expertise.

Why Choice Refreshments?

As a small, family-run business, we have the flexibility and personal touch needed to ensure you get the best options for your school. If you need us, we’ll be there, so you won’t spend hours on hold, and we can get engineers out to your location as soon as you require them.

Our team is fully CRB checked and we have over 20 years of experience working in schools and education facilities, so we have a great understanding of all the unique challenges associated with working in schools, and the needs of educational facilities.

To find out more about Choice Refreshments, the products and services we offer, or to book a site visit for your school, visit our website at choicerefreshments.co.uk, or call our team on 0161 482 4591.

We might be biased, but we’d like to take this time to introduce our range of coffee and explain why we think it’s the best coffee in town…

The Flavour

First and foremost, the discerning factor when choosing your coffee is the flavour. Our founder Russell is a self-confessed ‘coffee snob’. He loves nothing more than tasting all of our coffees on our sourcing trips to the world’s leading coffee producing countries. If it doesn’t pack the flavour punch that we pride ourselves on, it won’t be purchased. It’s that simple!

The Freshness

Our promise to our customers is that our coffee will reach you in less than three weeks from bean to cup. All of our coffee is roasted and then ground here in the UK before being quickly packed to seal in the flavour. This is all to ensure that when you open one of our bags of coffee you will get that amazing scent of freshly ground coffee that makes all of us coffee lovers weak at the knees!

Our Ethics

You will see the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade symbols on every pack of Breez coffee you purchase. At the heart of our business is the desire to give back to the communities we work with and it is a personal commitment from our founder Russell to our staff and our customers that we will always work ethically and sustainably.

We are constantly finding new ways that we can ensure that we are keeping this promise. Our commitment is to ensure that the farmers we work with are paid fairly for the amazing work they do for us, that we are always giving back as much to the earth as we take, and that the soil that provides for us will stay in perfect condition.

Our Range

All coffee drinkers know that you crave a different type of coffee on a Sunday morning than you do on a Wednesday at the 3pm slump. This is why we have a range of different strengths for different occasions. Relax with the crossword with a cup of our Excellence coffee at a 3/10 strength, or pep yourself up with our Revive coffee at a 5/10 strength.

We also have our ‘Pure Origins’ range, which gives you the flavours of coffee from Ethiopia, Sumatra and Columbia. You’ll be surprised at how much the taste can change between the different countries. The taste of coffee depends on the soil conditions, the climate, the rainfall, the amount of sunlight, the altitude at which is it grown… so many factors contribute, so make sure you try all three to find your favourite!

Have we persuaded you? Buy a pack of Breez coffee here on our website…

You’re probably quite good at keeping yourself hydrated in the Summer, when the sun is shining, you feel warmer and because you actually feel thirsty. But dehydration can strike in the Winter months too, when your thirst response is not as strong. It is important to remember that just because you’re not thirsty, doesn’t mean you’re hydrated. There are many reasons why it is just as important to stay hydrated in winter, and there are many benefits to your health to do so…

Detox Your Body

Drinking plenty of water helps you flush out the toxins that accumulate in your body. At a time of year where excess and consumption is at an all-time high (think about all that Prosecco, mince pies and cheese), water is vital to help your body get rid of the waste you’ve been putting into it. Water is the key lubricant that helps to transport the toxins and waste out of the body via the colon, preventing constipation and flushing your system. Drinking plenty of water also helps transport the nutrients the body does need to the right places.

Get An Energy Boost

In the winter you are more likely to turn to a hot cup of tea or coffee when you hit that afternoon slump. However, your tiredness could actually be a sign that you’re dehydrated. Your body becomes sluggish and uses more energy to perform daily tasks when you’re not properly hydrated, resulting in you feeling lethargic. So, next time you’re feeling sleepy at your desk, make a stop at the watercooler when you’re on your way to the coffee machine.

Skin Care

In the winter your skin can get really dry. The combination of those cold winds outside along with the dry, warm air from the central heating results in moisture being sapped from your skin. Many people turn to expensive moisturisers and facials to keep their skin supple in the winter, but it’s key to drink plenty of water to hydrate from the inside, out.

Avoid Winter Weight Gain

It is so common to put on weight in winter that it is almost expected of us, but “Holiday Weight” or “Winter Weight” can be avoided if you make sure you drink plenty of water in the winter months. Many of the occasions that we feel hungry and start snacking between meals, we are actually mistaking hunger with dehydration. Next time you find yourself reaching for the sweet treats or comfort food, grab a glass of water and sip it slowly. You will often find that your cravings subside and you can resist the temptation to overindulge. Sipping water with your meals will also prevent you from overeating or going back for too many helpings.

Water Loss

We are all very aware that during the Summer months and during physical activities we sweat and lose water. In Winter, we aren’t necessarily exercising as much and we certainly aren’t sweating from the heat, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t losing moisture. You know when you can see your breath coming from your mouth and nose in the cold weather? That is water escaping from your body. Just another reason why it is key to keep yourself hydrated in winter!

Hydration & Warmth In One

Remember, the water you consume doesn’t have to be ice cold from the watercooler. You could have a nice hot cup of herbal tea, or a warm water with fresh lemon juice. And with our awesome range of water boilers, you don’t have to waste time waiting for the kettle to boil. Hydration and a warm drink at the flick of a switch. Perfect!

There’s a new water boiler on the block, and it’s fob-operated, safety-conscious and multi-functional. Working well in high-risk environments where health and safety is a daily concern, the Control-Flow protects staff and patients from injury and humiliation, and allows those with fob access to pour themselves a hot drink. An advanced locking system and steam reduction technology are just two of the water boiler’s great features and we take a look at these and more in this post.

Key Features Of The Control-Flow

4-PART DISPENSE

The water boiler’s locking system is activated by placing the electronic key fob on the display panel’s sensor. Easily changeable, the dispense function can be set up in 4 different ways:

None/Open: No lock. Users can push and hold the button to pour boiling water.

Toggle: The fob turns the dispense function on and off sequentially, as and when required.

Timed: Water is dispensed for a pre-set time, before automatically locking.

One-shot: A single drink is dispensed before the boiling water function turns off

THE HIGHEST STANDARDS

WRAS approved: The Control-Flow doesn’t cause waste, contamination of the water supply, misuse and is ‘of an appropriate quality and standard’.

EMC Tested and Certified (EN 55014 & EN 61000): Concerns electromagnetic compatibility and ensures that testing and measurement show immunity.

Electrical Safety Tested and Certified (BS standard BS EN 60335-1 & 2): Concerns topics such as electrical safety, heating, internal wiring and connections.

The Control-Flow also has in-built dual safety protection, meaning it will cut out if it produces excess steam (over boil) or is very dry (boil dry).

EASE OF USE

An easy-to-read LCD screen that states, ‘’Very Hot Water!’’ when dispensing, as well as warning users about issues such as ‘OVERFILL’ and ‘CLEAN PROCESS’.

Simple to programme, whether that’s choosing the locking system, setting up ‘ECO MODE’ or choosing the temperature of the water.

To clean the tank, a damp cloth and a high quality stainless steel cleaner is all that is required.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

Capacity: 15 litres.

Product Dimensions: (W x D x H) mm 260 x 465 x 608 (depth includes drip-tray).

Tap Clearance: 145mm

Product Weight: 14.2kg when empty.

Product Weight: 28.5kg when full.

Tank Construction: 304 & 316 grade stainless steel.

Tank Wall Thickness: 0.9mm.

Drip-tray: 304 grade stainless steel, with a mirror polish.

Water Temperature: 96°c (can be adjusted down to 80°c).

Heat Up Time: 32 minutes for a full tank.

Output Per Hour: 28 litres/168 cups.

Rapid Draw-Off: 12 litres/90 cups.

‘’The Control-Flow highlights how access to hot drinks and the safety of patients and staff can be joined together in one great water boiler.’’ Mrs C.

For further information on the Control-Flow, please call us today on 0161 482 4591.

We are very excited to announce that Choice Refreshments has merged with the mighty coffee company, BREEZ. Our shared passion of all things coffee – the culture, the benefits and the varieties – will undoubtedly bring our skillsets to the fore and make this merger flourish.

Appealing to the ‘coffee lovers at work’, we aim to make the process of choosing, purchasing and consuming coffee an enjoyable experience, every time. A great tasting coffee has the ability to boost morale, increase productivity and bring employees together, so we only sell the best. Our coffee beans are roasted to perfection and infused with flavours as tantalising as bergamot, forest fruits, milk chocolate and hazelnut caramel, providing an office with unique flavours that will make them always come back for more.

And when they do, they’ll receive great discounts that reward their loyalty. We already offer next day delivery for all orders placed before 12pm, but for those who create a weekly or monthly subscription through their easy-to-create account, we throw a free coffee machine into the mix for added convenience. With delicious coffee and a free high-tech coffee machine, you can’t go wrong.

Our online shop makes ordering simple, with useful product descriptions, bright imagery and an easy check-out process. Our prices are also extremely competitive, and you certainly won’t find coffee with as rich, smooth or creamy a taste as our superb selection anywhere else. We take pride in our collection, because we know that you’ll savour and appreciate it.

We welcome you to visit our website, and to try out some of our wonderful flavours. Just as we were the choice for Breez, let us be the choice for you.

According to Diabetes UK, the number of people living with diabetes has more than doubled in the last 20 years, reaching 4.6 million. Almost 9 in 10 of those people have Type 2 and it’s estimated that there are approximately 1 million people unaware that they have the condition. If you’re unsure yourself, symptoms include blurred vision, fatigue, sores that won’t heal and increased thirst and therefore, urination. We recommend you see your doctor if you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms recently.

Increased thirst is of particular concern, as Diabetes Self-Management states:

‘’For people with diabetes, the risk of dehydration is greater, because higher than normal blood glucose depletes fluids. To get rid of the glucose, the kidneys will try to pass it out in the urine, but that takes water. So the higher your blood glucose, the more fluids you should drink, which is why thirst is one of the main symptoms of diabetes.’’

If you don’t drink regularly, the body will take water from other sources, such as tears, saliva and cells, resulting in dry eyes and mouth. Access to water is therefore necessary to keep your body happy and refreshed.

Our Range Of Water Coolers:

Placing a water cooler in your working environment is a great way to have chilled water on tap, allowing everyone to feel the benefits.

Quarrtz Watercooler: Practical, cost-effective and works just as well in a reception area, as in an office, boardroom or factory.

Classic Watercooler: Stylish, offers chilled, ambient and hot water and works best in schools and sports centres.

Unite Watercooler: Great for reception areas and offices, this sleek machine is the ideal height for interaction, and throws sparkling water into the mix.

Underbench Watercooler: With its hidden tank and modern design, the Underbench works wonders in bars, restaurants and kitchenettes.

For more information on any of our water coolers, please call us today on 0161 482 4591 or fill in the contact form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

To learn more about diabetes, NHS inform have created a handy online guide covering symptoms, causes, tests and treatments among other useful information.

For many people, drinking a cup or two of coffee a day is as important as brushing their teeth or checking the news. In fact, in the UK alone, we drink an estimated 95 million cups of coffee every day, due to its great taste and energising capabilities. However, with so much conflicting evidence and controversy surrounding whether coffee negatively effects our health, we want to look at whether coffee can actually be a source of good.

Coffee Contains Essential Nutrients

According to Healthline, a cup of coffee contains:

Magnesium and niacin (vitamin B3): 2% of the recommended daily intake (RDI).
Manganese and potassium: 3% of the RDI.
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): 6% of the RDI.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 11% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI).

These nutrients help to maintain bone and heart health, keeps skin healthy, reduces the risk of diabetes and aids liver function among other benefits.

Coffee Can Help You Burn Fat

Caffeine can increase a person’s metabolic rate by 3-11%, helping the body to burn calories faster.

Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, which sends signals to fat cells encouraging them to break down.

As caffeine blocks the neurotransmitter adenosine, causing a coffee drinker to feel more awake, it’s been shown to improve exercise performance by 11-12%.

Coffee May Lower The Risk Of Cancer

Thought to be due to its rich source of antioxidants, multiple studies have suggested a link between drinking coffee and a reduced cancer risk. For example, it’s been found that coffee drinkers:

Have a 41% lower risk of developing liver cancer.
Have a 15% lower risk of having colorectal cancer.
Have a 60% lower risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Caffeine has also been found to inhibit protein growth in lung cancer cells, preventing cell growth and reproduction, and therefore lung cancer.

Coffee Can Boost Your Happiness

It’s not just the body that coffee can help with, but the mind too. You may already know that coffee can boost mood, due to increasing serotonin (26-30% increase), GABA (65%) and acetylcholine (40-50%) levels, but did you know that it’s also been linked to a reduced risk of developing depression? This is because caffeine can help to relieve depressive symptoms such as tiredness, loss of interest in once enjoyed activities, low mood and suicidal thoughts.

Clinical evidence includes:

4 cups of caffeinated coffee a day was found to reduce the chances of women developing depression by 20%, according to Lucas et al. (2011).

Ruusunen et al. (2010) in their study on Finnish men claimed a 77% risk reduction for heavy coffee drinkers.

Those who drink at least 2 cups of coffee a day scored lower on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, compared to those who drink only 1 (Pham et al., (2013)).

Coffee clearly has some beneficial effects, especially when it can help reduce the risks of cancer and depression. If you’ve been looking for a new coffee machine for your office, clinic or hospital, we recommend you check out our range of coffee machines, coffee beans, instant coffee and filter and cafetierie coffee. It could make everyone’s day.

Don’t you just love the refreshing taste of a Fanta, Sprite, Coca Cola or Appletiser when you’re at a restaurant, summer party or on holiday? They make the weather bearable. They make you feel better. They quench your thirst. We’d agree that a sugary drink every now and then is ok, but when it becomes your go-to drink, it can cause future health issues that can be both serious and irreversible. Nobody loves that. So how could increased sugar intake effect your health? We take a look and suggest some healthier options.

How Much Sugar Is In….?

Appletizer: 31.7g.

Sprite: 33.7g.

Coca Cola: 35g.

Iron Brew: 37g.

Powerade: 38.8g.

Fanta Pine: 40.6g.

Fanta Orange: 41g.

Schweppes Dry Lemon: 42.3g.

Fanta Grape: 44.1g.

To put that into perspective, the NHS states that:

Adults and children aged 11+ should consume no more than 30g of sugar a day.

Children aged 7-10 should consume no more than 24g.

Children aged 4-6 should stop at 19g.

Sugar’s Effect On Health

Sugary drinks can lead to insulin resistance, a major cause of Type 2 diabetes.

Many studies have found strong links with heart disease. For example, de Koning et al. (2012) found men who drank one sugary drink a day had a 20% greater risk of having, or dying from, a heart attack than those who seldom drank them.

Pancreatic, endometrial and colorectal cancer have all been linked with sugary drinks.

Research, including Moreira (2013) suggests high blood sugar increases the risk of dementia.

For people with addictive personalities, sugary drinks can impact the brain’s reward system, giving them feelings of pleasure that they wish to maintain.

Fortunately, there are healthier options. Low fat milk, sugar-free drinks and water are all great choices, as well as tea and coffee. As the NHS states:

‘’Water is a healthy and cheap choice for quenching your thirst at any time. It has no calories and contains no sugars that can damage teeth.’’

How Can You Help Your Staff and Patients?

Removing your fizzy drinks machines may seem extreme, but providing a greater range of healthier drinks will benefit everyone in the long run. We offer a great selection of hygienic water coolers, water boilers, milk fridges and coffee machines that offer specialities, ease of use and capacities sure to suit your facility’s size and requirements.

With taste, functionally and eco-friendliness at the core of all of our products, why not check out our range by visiting our website, or calling us on 0161 482 4591 today.

Being afraid of the dentist can mean different things to different people. Whereas some people get a little anxious, nervous or worried about their visit, others may experience full-blown panic attacks, deciding to avoid their dentist altogether. Not great for oral health, this can exacerbate any issues, turning a recommended dentist visit into essential surgery. With dental phobia affecting 1 in 4 people, we decided to look into why this is and suggest ways to make your patients’ visits as pleasant as possible.

WHAT CAUSES DENTAL PHOBIA?

The most common causes of dental phobia include:

Fear Of Pain: Usually stemming from a frightening dental or healthcare experience in childhood, this fear can also occur due to prior trauma to the head or neck.

Fear Of Injections: Whether that’s the needle itself, having injections inserted into the mouth or worry that the anaesthesia won’t work.

Fear Of Anaesthesia’s Side Effects: For example, dizziness, nausea, confusion and headaches.

Feelings Of Helplessness: Sitting in a dentist’s chair, being unable to move with various tools in your mouth can make some people extremely uneasy.

Other causes include self-consciousness, pre-existing conditions such as agoraphobia and claustrophobia and trust issues.

Signs of dental phobia include feeling physically ill when thinking about the dentist, trouble sleeping the night before scheduled visits and being unable to enter the clinic or office.

Though there may be different causes, everyone worries about their teeth and damaging them should they not visit. In fact, this can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If people know they have dental issues that should be treated, not going to the dentist will only worsen the condition and potentially lead to infection, decay and jaw problems. No fear is worth that, so what can be done to help patients feel better about their visits?

OUR TOP TIPS FOR CALMING YOUR PATIENTS’ NERVES.

We recommend giving your patients the following advice:

Find a dentist that you feel comfortable with, whether that’s one recommended by a family member or friend or one that is known to work well with nervous patients. Prior to your check-up, treatment or surgery, visit their office to familiarise yourself with the staff and the surroundings.

“Modern dental surgeries are much friendlier environments, with flowers in the waiting room, art on the walls, a pleasant reception area and polite staff’’ – Karen Coates, dental adviser at the British Dental Health Foundation

Pick an appointment time that will reduce your stress, such as straight after work or first thing in the morning to get it over and done with.

If possible, bring a friend along to distract you in the waiting room and be a source of support in the dental office.

Before your treatment, agree a sign with your dentist, such as holding your hand up, to indicate that you’d like a break or need them to stop.

Soothing music is known to reduce stress and increase relaxation, so bring an iPod, MP3 player or personal stereo along to listen to music during your visit. It’ll work wonders, drowning out the sounds of dental equipment.

If you’re afraid of needles, tell your dentist before your visit. There are anaesthetic gels that can be applied to your gum that will numb it, ensuring you don’t feel the needle.

Talking over their fears with you can help to, as well as showing them that you’ll take these fears into consideration by discussing treatment options.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO HELP CALM MY PATIENTS’ NERVES?

A lot of fear can build up in the reception area or waiting room, so making this as welcoming as possible is a good idea. Along with Karen’s great suggestions, we recommend placing a water cooler in this space so that patients can benefit from a refreshing drink while they wait. Water is known to lessen anxiety, reduce stress and boost mood, therefore making a real difference to their dental experience.

At Choice Refreshments, we offer a fantastic selection of water coolers that place hygiene, taste and ease of use at their core. Trusted by clinics and health centres up and down the country, we ensure an eco-friendly and sophisticated alternative to many coolers on the market.

To find the perfect water cooler for your office, call us on 0161 482 4591 or visit our website today.

A big topic in the news recently has been the war on plastic and how we need to change our ways or risk destroying the ocean. Not a new problem, we are producing over 300 million tons of plastic, including bags, bottles and microbeads every year, half of which is single-use. It’s estimated that 8 million tons of this plastic ends up in our ocean, polluting it and harming sea life. Clearly, we can’t let this continue. In this post, we’d like to present some hard facts, talk about our disposable cups and look at things we can all do to help.

Hard facts

All plastic ever created is still with us on the planet today (Plastic Oceans).

Less than a fifth of all plastic is recycled globally (National Geographic).

There is currently a 1:2 ratio of plastic to plankton, and if unmonitored, they’ll be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050 (The Telegraph).

In 2017’s ‘Great British Beach Clean’, 255,209 pieces of litter was removed from 339 beaches, which on average is 718 pieces per 100m stretch of beach. This is a 10% rise on 2016’s clean (Marine Conservation Society).

Over 50% of sea turtles have consumed plastic, which gets trapped in their stomach and prevents them from eating (Global Citizen; Sea Turtle Conservancy).

It’ll take the following items, this many years to biodegrade (NOAA/ WOODS HOLE SEA GRANT):

Plastic Bag: 20 Years.

Foamed Plastic Cup: 50 Years.

Aluminium Drinks Can: 200 Years.

Straw: 200 Years.

Six-pack Beer Holder: 400 Years.

Nappy: 450 Years.

Plastic Bottles: 450 Years.

Fishing Line: 600 Years.

“Chemicals from plastics are a constant part of our daily diet. We generally assume the water bottle holding that pure spring water, the microwave-safe plastic bowl we prepare our meals in, or the styrofoam cup holding a hot drink is there protecting our food and drinks. Rather than acting as a completely inert barrier, these plastics are breaking down and leaching chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting plasticizers like BPA or phthalates, flame retardants, and even toxic heavy metals that are all absorbed into our diets and bodies.” Scott Belcher, The Endocrine Society, quoted in Plastic Invasion.

What We Can All Do To Help

Scary stuff huh? Luckily, there are various things we can all do to reduce our plastic usage, including:

1. Bringing your own bags when you go shopping (also saving you 10p each time you do!).
2. Buy fruit and vegetables fresh, and unwrapped in plastic.
3. Don’t use single-use plates, knives and forks for parties or events.
4. Don’t release balloons into the air, as they may land in the ocean and choke marine life.
5. Always recycle any plastic you use.
6. Say no to plastic straws as they’re among the most prevalent pieces of marine pollution.

Disposable Cups With A Difference

Concerned about your office’s plastic usage, especially your cups? Why not try out our, ‘Diamond Disposable Coffee Cups’, which are not only washable and therefore reusable, but are made from biodegradable materials that will decompose quickly should any need to be thrown out, or recycled.

They offer many benefits over their plastic counterparts, including:

They don’t contain toxic elements or chemicals.

Safe to use for both hot and cold drinks, with insulation insuring drinks stay hotter for longer.

Convenient for corporate events and meetings.

For more information on the war on plastic, we recommend you visit WWF’s dedicated, ‘PLASTICS: WHY WE MUST ACT NOW’ page. We can all do our bit to help.