Business Travel

Taiwan’s plan to battle plastic

Some fast food restaurants no longer offer plastic straws, the first phase in Taiwan's ambitious plan to reduce single-use plastic

Next time you’re travelling in Taiwan, you might notice some fast food restaurants no longer offering plastic straws. The first phase of a wide-ranging plastic ban starts this year, with major chain restaurants no longer allowed to provide plastic straws for in-store use. This requirement will be extended to all dining outlets in 2020.

According to a broad anti-plastic scheme laid out for Taiwan last year, all plastic straws, shopping bags, utensils and cups will cost consumers extra starting in 2025, and they’ll be fully banned by 2030.

Places around the world have been devising their own ways to reduce single-use plastic, which piles into our landfills and pollutes the oceans. The latest regions to enact plastic-related laws include Scotland, which banned single-use straws starting this year, while the EU will require member countries to ban a list of 10 items – styrofoam cups and cotton swabs that use plastic among them – by 2021. Taiwan’s plan has been the most aggressive in Asia so far.

Cathay Travell Book

ABOUT

Discovery online brings together all the inspirational travel writing from our two inflight magazines, Discovery and Silkroad. Be sure to look out for the print editions when you next fly with Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon.
Discovery Book Silkroad Book