How did Taiwanese become so receptive of plastic-reduction policies? It might have to do with Taiwan's education, colonial history, culture, and even religious influence.

The News Lens
Date: 2019/09/03
By: Jasmine Su

Shortly after Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced that plastic straws will be banned for most indoor dining venues, a Taiwanese politician posted a video on Facebook of her attempting — and failing — to drink bubble tea with a spoon.

Her video received a huge backlash from the online community, with more “angry reactions” than “likes” and multiple comments linking to videos of straws found in sea turtles.

The internet reaction offers only a small glimpse into how much plastic waste reduction has made its way into Taiwan’s public consciousness. EPA expanded its plastic bag ban last year to bar an additional 80,000 merchants from providing plastic bags for free. Since then, consumers from all age groups can be seen carrying metal straws and reusable tumblers among other trendy environmental merchandise.

Even companies outside the legal purview of the plastic straw ban, such as bubble tea stalls, are proactively shifting to plastic straw alternatives. All of this came after a series of top-down regulations restricting plastic use, but most importantly, Taiwanese companies are also responding to their highly environmentally conscious consumers.    [FULL  STORY]