Using disposable utensils costs us more money, but mostly costs us in the lives of many animals.
To raise awareness of the serious problem Sodastream and the Nature and Parks Authority are now launching together a limited edition of reusable bottles decorated with colorful illustrations of wildlife: dry turtle, donkey and bat.
The bottles will be sold during the Sukkot holiday at service centers in dozens of nature reserves and national parks around the country, at a symbolic price of NIS 10 per bottle, with the proceeds from their sale contributing to the "bribery" activity to save wildlife that are directly affected by eating plastic.
The main goal of the unique collaboration between the Nature and Parks Authority and Sodastream is to encourage the use of reusable utensils and to dispose of disposable utensils, bags and waste, which are among the main causes of harm to wildlife.
Through the endearing illustrations, both bodies seek to reach the hearts of children and adults, and convey a sharp and clear message: a small bottle can make a big difference, and even save lives.
In the last year alone, 7,078 animals have needed veterinary care by "Hibulens", with one of the factors that significantly harm the health and lives of animals being the plastic thrown away in nature.
The "Hibulance" is an array of volunteers from the Nature and Parks Authority created to transfer injured protected wildlife from all over the country to the Wildlife Hospital of the Nature and Parks Authority, which operates in collaboration with the safari and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Ronnie King Veterinarian Nature and Parks Authority:
"Plastic is one of the main causes of damage to animals and ecosystems. Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose and disappear from the world. During this time, plastic is eaten by many animals, from birds that feed their chicks to fish that eat particles that look like tiny crabs that are their natural food. Plastic pollutes all natural systems and harms nature and over the years with its decomposition into small particles, of course also in human health. Bags and wipes are eaten by animals that have not learned to avoid eating them - at sea by sea turtles and in the desert by chamois. In the stomachs of almost every goat tested, bags and wipes were found, the volume of which they occupy, can impair digestive efficiency, and cause animals to suffer from extreme hunger, even when food is plentiful. "We will try to reduce the use of disposable bags, wipes and plastic and if we have already used them, we will make sure that we do not leave any trace of these materials, so we avoid harming the animals and the environment that we love so much."
Stella Krioff, CEO of Sodastream Israel:
"We believe that every company must do its best for the environment. In recent years we have witnessed disturbances in the ecological balance when one of the reasons for this is the increased consumption of disposable utensils. "We saw fit to make the connection with the Nature and Parks Authority during the holidays, during which many go for a walk and call on hikers to avoid using disposable bottles and also contribute to the activity of cannibalism, by purchasing reusable bottles, so together we can influence and produce real change for wildlife and the planet." .
Uri Laniel, Enforcement Division of the Nature and Parks Authority:
"Chibulance is a voluntary project that aims to promote nature conservation and help transport damaged wildlife to the wildlife hospital that is on safari. Damage to vehicles and eating waste (for example plastic bags and wipes). With the help of our dedicated volunteers we manage to move and care for thousands of animals every year, but unfortunately the number increases every year and we seek the public's help in preserving nature and reducing harm and raising awareness of the Nature and Parks Authority. Derech Hibuls provides a solution for the affected wildlife, for this purpose any injured wild animal or pest should be reported to the "Nature Center" of the Nature and Parks Authority at 3639 *
Proceeds from the joint venture with Sodastream will be donated to the purchase of equipment and first-aid measures designed for animals and to fund additional training and education for our dear volunteers and for wildlife - so that they will be here tomorrow as well. "
