Paper or Plastic?
Soon, you might be hearing this question at your local fly shop as well as the grocery store.
AFFTA has announced that they are making recycled paper fly boxes available to fly shops as an alternative to the usual plastic fly cups. These new boxes are part of Costa’s #kickplastic campaign with the goal of reducing the amount of plastic waste introduced to the environment.
It is estimated that the fly fishing industry generates 3.5 million plastic containers annually. Many fish have been found with plastic remnants in their guts and every piece of plastic ever produced is still on the planet today.
The cardboard boxes come in three sizes: 2″ X 2″ X 2″ for dry flies and nymphs, 3″ X 3″ X 2″ for bigger dries and streamers, and 6″ X 3″ X 2″ for large streamers. The biggest size can also accommodate a few spools of tippet.
What do you think?
Here at Headhunters, we care about our customer’s opinions. Would you want the option of a recycled paper fly box to be made available?
14 Comments.
I approve of any attempt to reduce plastic trash but cardboard ain’t transparent. Same reason that I’m dumping my C&F fly boxes Will my two dozen HH plastic cups become collector’s items?
Bert, I hear where you’re coming from. I know a lot of guys/gals who live out of their plastic fly cups during the fishing season. On the positive side, most of those people hold onto their cups and don’t throw them away very often. However, if a guy/gal is just using a cup as a shuttle to his/her fly box and then throwing the cup away, the recycled boxes would be a more environmentally viable option for that type of use.
I get my flies from 7wt. He doesn’t ask.
I think I have enough HH Plastic cups stashed away that I could fabricate a watercraft that would be the envy of the splash & giggle crowd…..so yeah, cardboard would work for me.
Upcycle those bad boys into a boat! Thanks, Mark.
Aside from a few ancient Perrines and Wheatleys, aren’t all fly boxes plastic?
You’re absolutely right, but the new recycled cardboard boxes are meant to replace fly cups (like in the image above), not fly boxes. Most people keep their fly boxes for a long time, but fly cups often have a much shorter lifespan before they end up in the trash.
Love my hockey pucks, have enough to last me a lifetime! Cardboard great, hand me the flys put them I’m my existing containers even better!
We’re like you Mark, a lot of us reuse our pucks over and over.
Hello……….I support the paper ……right on Costa
Way on board to reduce plastic waste, but if it doesn’t fit in my vest I don’t want it. The skinny HH ones are the best. You gonna be unhappy if I accidentally fill my Bozeman Angler puck at the shop?
Braden,
I use the plastic containers only for transport to my permanent fly box. Also, I usually return stacks of the plastic boxes to the shop. With that said, I would support switching to cardboard or having the choice of either item.
It would be great if it wasn’t an option, just make the switch! Lead by example.
I’m with Richard (7wt) but endorse the effort.