It’s about time local restaurants do their part to lessen plastic pollution in the Philippines, and this chicken chain is doing just that.
Twitter user Pam Escobedo shared a now-viral photo yesterday of her takeaway from local roasted chicken chain Andok’s. In it, she praised the establishment for using wooden spoons and forks instead of the usual plastic ones.
“If Andok’s can do it, why can’t bigger restos or fast food chains?” she wrote on her caption.
If Andok’s can do it, why can’t bigger restos or fast food chains? 🤔😬 pic.twitter.com/V1GzCicxZz
— Pam ・し・ (@PAMESCO) May 29, 2019
Escobedo told Coconuts Manila through a Twitter message that she bought her chicken from the Andok’s branch in Makati Avenue, near where she works.
“There’s so much plastic use whenever you buy food, whether dine-in or take-out,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino. “So when I got to buy in Andoks, I was happy because I never really encountered wooden utensils given by food establishments.”
READ: Planet Plastic: The undying plastic problem on Manila’s Baseco Beach (Video)
Jenel Loto, the marketing officer of Andok’s, told Coconuts Manila through a phone interview that they give customers wooden utensils for their takeaways in their Boracay and Makati City branches — 22 stores in total. Loto said they started the green initiative last year and shared that they plan to implement it in all branches nationwide.
Both Makati and Boracay require food establishments to use ec0-friendly materials.
Makati City has City Ordinance No. 095, series of 2003 which requires the use of environment-friendly materials in food chains, restaurants, supermarkets, eateries and other similar establishments within the city. However, not all establishments follow this.
Meanwhile, Boracay has Municipal Ordinance No. 386, Series of 2018, which prohibits the use of single-use or disposable plastic items in hotels, resorts, restaurants, and establishments in the accommodation business.
The tweet went viral with 31,000 likes and 10,000 retweets as of this article’s posting. Netizens think it’s really cool for Andok’s to do this.
@therachelravana said: “Omg cuuute.”
https://twitter.com/therachelravana/status/1133565542122512384
https://twitter.com/yannananananana/status/1133613096117755904
@KIRiosityy said that the Chinese dim sum stall near her office also gives customers wooden utensils.
https://twitter.com/KIRiosityy/status/1133910068536045569
“[I]t’s so cute I’m having second thoughts on using it,” said @madeleine_rgm.
https://twitter.com/madeleine_rgm/status/1133799592657448960
https://twitter.com/LangeLovesU/status/1133756078452174849
@geekswift commended Andok’s: “Andoks ur doin well sweetie.”
Andoks ur doin well sweetie
— Taylockheart (@geekswift) May 29, 2019
Have you encountered other establishments that do this too? Leave a comment below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
Learn more about the effects of plastic pollution in Manila in this video:
https://youtu.be/L1LOrfKPXSE
