Homegrown zero waste co.

Photo: Keith Stafford

A Kelowna-based company is hoping to capitalize on a move away from plastic and paper straws and packaging by offering a sustainable bamboo alternative.

Keith Stafford, CEO of Bella Bamboo, says "bamboo provides 100 per cent biodegradable, compostable, sustainable, and an economical solution to end the use of plastics, styrofoam, and achieve zero waste."

As the name suggests, Bella Bamboo uses bamboo as a replacement for single-use plastics and styrofoam containers. Stafford says it is a 100 per cent natural, reusable, compostable and sustainable bamboo.

Bella Bamboo is also working on creating bamboo food and beverage containers in addition to utensils and shopping bags.

"All our bamboo is completely biodegradable, compostable, and is also inherently resilient and sturdily constructed, a far cry from the flimsily designed plastics and paper currently in play," says Stafford.

Unlike single-use items, bamboo products can be used many times over before they're replaced.

Stafford is passionate about the environment and points to several ways bamboo can be used to cut down on waste:

• Renewable Energy - harvested bamboo can be converted into chips and sold for biomass power generation.
• Agriculture - bamboo grows quickly and under many climate conditions which makes it suitable for all types of farming and agriculture.

"We are Canada's first wholesale zero waste company," says Stafford.

Some B.C. restaurants are moving away from single-use straws and other products, but California has become the first U.S. state to outright ban plastic straws. As of 2019, if you want a straw in California, you will have to ask for one.