Entrepreneur Mums Camilla Weinstein and Charlotte Downes started Straw the Line NZ in 2019. As two Mums on maternity leave, they wanted to start a business that had purpose, and that could change how New Zealanders view single-use items. They set out on a mission to save the planet one slurp at a time.
Kiwis make their way through an estimated 200 million plastic straws a year. Some bars use 800 straws a day in the summer period. Straw the Line NZ is on a mission to revolutionise the reusable straw industry and contribute to a more sustainable future for Aotearoa.
“As a Mum with a one and three-year-old, we’ve experienced the frustrating soggy paper straws. I want to put an end to the soggy paper straws and un-environmentally friendly options. I want to protect our planet for future generations and my two boys,” said Weinstein.
“It’s astounding to see straws still coming up as one of the number one items found at any beach clean-up and the repercussions of plastic straws ending up in our oceans and in the stomachs of marine turtles, whales, seals and seabirds,” added Downes.
The Edible Raw Straws are made from rice flour and tapioca starch, they are 100% natural and 100% biodegradable, breaking down in around 90 days. Considering plastic takes over 200 years to decompose and paper straws involve cutting down trees and are terrible to use, this is a great natural alternative. Why not have your drink and eat your straw?
Two Mums from Auckland, Camilla Weinstein and Charlotte Downes ethically source the product from Vietnam (as Kiwi’s aren’t typically rice farmers). The product is gluten-free, vegan friendly and uses only natural vegetable colouring to create the eight colours.
Edible Raw Straws are being slurped in kiwi homes from Kaitaia to Dunedin. As a small Kiwi owned and operated business Straw the Line NZ want to support regional sustainability and other New Zealand businesses, which is why they use local Kiwi businesses for their packaging, stationery and logistics.
Edible Raw Straws can be purchased on the Straw the Line NZ website strawthelinenz.co.nz
