Jumeirah Group has launched a plastic ban across all its restaurants that will come into effect this Sunday says Nick Ames

UAE-based Jumeirah Restaurant Group is to ban the use of plastic straws, stirrers and toothpicks across all its outlets from Sunday (March 18th).

Timed to coincide with ‘International Companies That Care Day’ the move also includes a ‘plastic amnesty’.

This means on Sunday any customers dining at a branch of The Noodle House who bring unwanted plastic cutlery with them will receive a 50 per cent discount off their total food bill. However the offer does not include the outlet at Dubai International Airport.

The Noodle House, Flow in Emirates Towers, and Madinat-located Pierchic have already announced the removal of plastic straws and cutlery across both restaurants and home delivery services.

Now the groups other eateries, including Al Nafoorah, Pai Thai, Perry & Blackwelder’s, Trattoria Toscana, Segreto and The Agency, all in the Madinat Jumeirah are replacing all plastic with eco-friendly alternatives.

‘It is more important than ever that brands take responsibility for their part in creating a better world, and we are committed to phasing out plastic from all our operations as quickly as we can,’ said Emma Banks, group general manager.

‘Removing plastic across our entire operation will see us playing our part in reducing the volume that is out there significantly damaging our environment and wildlife, which is something that must be taken into account all over the world.’

The move is part of a growing awareness of the issue of non-biodegradeable single use plastic and its threat to the environment, especially the oceans.

Freedom Pizza is just another company banning straws in the UAE while large-scale clean-ups of beaches in Ras al Khaimah are also underway to protects marine wildlife from injecting waste with often fatal results.