Gates Hospitality ditches straws, joins movement to clean up the ocean. Gates Hospitality ditches straws, joins movement to clean up the ocean.

In a collaborative movement across the Gates Hospitality group, Bistro Des Arts, folly by Nick & Scott, Publique, Reform Social & Grill, The Black Lion, Ultra Brasserie and Via Veneto will come together to stop supplying straws at their respective venues in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic distributed.

The guests will now be encouraged to help themselves at the bar or request a straw when ordering their drinks.  

In response to Freedom Pizza’s ‘Stop Sucking’ campaign, whose initiative was largely inspired by the acts of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who last year dedicated the launch of International Volunteer Day by cleaning the sea, Gates Hospitality predict a saving over 81,000 straws annually across the group, if 60% of their consumers refrain from regular use. 

Commenting on the initiative, Gates Hospitality chief executive Naim Maadad said: “You know it’s a powerful campaign when brands come together to collaborate and we’re thrilled to be supporting another local business, implementing change across the UAE.”

“As a business, we need to refrain from handing them out with every order and the more that consumers are educated on the damage they cause to the environment, the less they’ll be using,” Maadad added.

The implementation of the ‘stop sucking’ campaign across six venues will take effect from April 1st, 2018 with a hope to support and boost the regional drive to reduce plastic waste, a statement said.

Freedom Pizza CEO and founder Ian Ohan said he’s pleased with the collaboration: “We are so pleased that Gates Hospitality has joined the movement to reduce single-use plastics in our industry. One small change can make a material impact on our environment. We are grateful to all our customers and industry peers for supporting this important initiative.”

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