Introducing: Avocado Pit Straws

Dennis Courtney, Director of Outlets

The national movement toward eliminating plastic straws began a few years ago, however it impacted coastal communities such as the Florida Keys the greatest. Responding to the call to respect our environment and preserve the Club for generations to enjoy, your Food and Beverage team was tasked with seeking an alternative to the plastic straw. Initially Members were encouraged to think twice about using a plastic straw, then a cornstarch-based straw was offered, followed with the notorious paper straw. Armed with the best intentions, we quickly discovered that straw alternatives were not perfect replacements.

This summer we made it a priority to evaluate other options and find an ideal solution for our Members. We found the best plastic alternative straw on the market, and are proud to present our avocado pit straws. Many Members have already commented on the noticeable improvement in quality to the new straws and have been surprised to discover they are made from renewable and sustainable resources.

These new straws are made from agro-waste (avocado pits and a dash of lime to be exact). Using agro-waste to make straws significantly reduces carbon footprint. They are 100% naturally biodegradable in both landfills and the ocean with minimal impact to marine life and the environment. Unlike the PLA (cornstarch-based straws we previously used) these do not need to be sent to a special compositing facility. The avocado pit straws naturally decompose in 240 days, versus 450 years for plastic straws and over 200 years for PLA straws.

Additionally, they meet the FDA standards for gluten-free and are GMO free. These straws are extremely durable which prevents them from breaking down while enjoying your favorite beverage. So go ahead, enjoy your favorite ORC beverage with a straw again.