Marwell Zoo in Hampshire, England has reused more than two million plastic straws as part of a new eco-friendly project.
Via the Hampshire Chronicle, the zoo has partnered with resin-bound specialist Oltco to upgrade several visitor pathways using a surface made from recycled waste.
Oltco's resin-bound surfaces are made from stone, aggregates, and plastic waste such as drink bottles, food packaging and straws.
Eco-friendly pathways at Marwell Zoo
Each square metre of Oltco's surfaces contains the equivalent of 3,000 recycled plastic straws, with more than two million reused across the zoo.
Kevin Morse, head of infrastructure at Marwell Zoo, said: "This project is a wonderful example of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding the environment.
"By transforming recycled plastic waste into safe, durable pathways we hope to enhance the experience for our visitors while reducing our environmental impact."
Sustainability efforts at Marwell Zoo
Oltco has recycled more than one billion plastic straws since launching its Recycle Bound product in 2019.
Johnny Pearce, technical director at Oltco, said: "We are thrilled to have worked with Marwell Zoo to enhance its outdoor spaces with our innovative Recycle Bound solution.
"It’s fantastic to see our eco-friendly resin-bound product not only enhance the aesthetics of such a well-known and beloved attraction but also improve the visitor experience by providing safe, durable and sustainable pathways."
Marwell Zoo is a 140-acre site housing more than 500 animals from 145 species.
The zoo's environmental efforts also include waste reduction, water conservation, and investment in sustainable building materials.
One of its initiatives, to generate renewable energy using the poo of endangered species, took first place in the sustainability category at the 2022 blooloop Innovation Awards.
Marwell Zoo is also developing drones to monitor endangered species in the wild in a non-invasive and cost-effective way.
The drones use thermal imaging, high-definition cameras, and AI to observe animals such as snow leopards in Kazakhstan and Grévy's zebra in Kenya.
Images courtesy of Marwell Zoo
