Ends and Means serves cocktails with reusable straws
Reusable straws are just one way they're minimising waste. Nestled on Gertrude Street, Ends and Means cocktail bar is designed to generate minimal waste. Working over the years in bars and nightclubs, Josh Hunt and Marc Frew saw the wasteful culture and unethical practices in the hospitality industry. They decided to embark on a journey to a more sustainable business by taking strong actions towards minimising waste.
What it means for the business
Ends and Means was set up in 2018 using recycled timber, eco-friendly wallpaper with non-toxic ink and pre-loved glassware from op-shops. Josh highlighted that many popular brands and suppliers in the hospitality industry want to see change and are now supporting businesses by providing reusable items such as straws and barware.
They also installed taps for beers and sparkling water to reduce waste generated from glass bottles or cans. To make soft drinks, they source the syrup from local and ethical producers. The empty bottles are either reused or recycled. The organic waste is collected in a separate bucket which is later donated to a local organisation for composting.
What it means for the customer
Ends and Means uses metal or bamboo straws to serve their customers and have never had any single-use plastic items to serve their customers.
‘When we started, the reusable straw was a talking point and customers have been very supportive of our efforts to reduce waste.'
The impact
Ends and Means produces less than 8 litres of waste every week serving more than 250 customers.
‘If we didn’t care, we would be producing 10 times more waste. But through small changes every step of the way, we’ve seen a big difference. As a result, the challenges of sustainability didn't overwhelm us - everyone should play their part to make this planet a better place,’ said Josh.
What's next?
Owners Josh and Marc are committed to promoting sustainable practices in the hospitality industry. They continuously work with local and ethical suppliers to reduce waste and implement reuse solutions.