A Better Way Forward

It’s time to put an end to single-use plastics in all their forms. Straws, spoons, forks, knives, whatever. Enough is enough. Society and governments alike are coming to the realization that the vast majority of plastics used on a daily basis are made in such a way that they practically last forever in landfills or–worse yet–in our oceans. We’re talking about billions of single-use plastics tossed in the trash on a yearly basis! We have to do better. 

Thankfully, many countries are introducing reforms to curb the production and use of single-use plastics. People are looking for greener alternatives like paper straws, biodegradable plastics, and reusables.  We went to the drawing board to come up with a set of elegant reusables that had to: 1) work really well 2) look really nice and 3) be really compact. The STRO and SPORQ are the result of over a year’s worth of tinkering and R&D to that end. 

Our company is Juka Innovations and from day one, we’ve set out to help solve some of the world’s most annoying problems with innovative products. You may have tried our award-winning TubShroom, SinkShroom, and ShowerShroom drain protection products, which can be found in over 6 million homes around the globe. That’s potentially millions of gallons of harmful liquid chemicals that people will no longer use to clear their clogged drains. We’d love to help in the fight against single-use plastics with our latest products: the STRO and SPORQ.   

At long last, the straw revolution is upon us. It’s no exaggeration to say that billions of plastic straws fill the world’s landfills and oceans on an almost yearly basis! The average consumer can use thousands of plastic straws each year. World governments are finally realizing the long-term impact all this waste is having on our environment and on our sea life. Some countries have already banned plastic bags and plastic straws. Even more forward-looking legislation is on the way, thankfully. 

One simple change in daily habits–like using a reusable straw in place of plastic straws–can have a profound impact on our collective global outlook. Our goal with the STRO™ Straw was to create an effective, durable, and easy-to-use stainless steel straw that could discretely attach to your keychain, belt, or bag and be there whenever you drink your favorite soft drink or frozen coffee beverage. We’ve tried it with cola cans, Starbucks drinks, fast-food cups–you name it. The premium stainless steel tips give you a cool, smooth sip every time. 

The 7.8″ tall STRO straw works fabulously well with virtually every can, bottle, or cup we threw at it. It’s tall enough to mimic and replace most of the popular plastic straws you find in restaurants today. Next time the cashier or wait staff asks you if you want a straw, you can politely decline because you’ll have the smoothest sipping reusable straw already at your side. Paper straws start to wilt within minutes of use. Silicone or rubber straws are flimsy and aren’t the most premium way to sip, to be honest. And no one wants to carry around those rigid full-sized stainless steel straws. We’re all used to the single-use plastic straws from years of habit, but it’s time to collectively move on from those.   

Let’s talk about cleaning. No one wants to carry around brushes with them everywhere they go so we built in squeegee style brushes where the straws go so you can more effectively rinse each straw part along with the holder itself under running water whenever you get to a sink. It’s a game-changer. We have also gone the extra step of including a mini nylon brush that you can keep at home for a more comprehensive deep cleaning  of all the parts.  The STRO and SPORQ are both made from high-quality, BPA-free materials.  

The STRO straw is ultra compact (about 3″x1.5″x.6″ in holder) and looks discrete enough to blend in on any keychain, bag, or belt buckle. It even slides right into your front pocket with ease. You may even forget it’s there… until you’re ready for a drink, that is! We know there are other reusable straw alternatives out there and we absolutely love that this market is growing because, frankly, it’s long overdue. We’ve found that many other reusable straws are either too bulky to carry around, too flimsy to sip straight, or too aesthetically unappealing. Paper straws are also growing in popularity, which is great, though they turn to mush unless you finish your drink within a few minutes of use. With the STRO straw, we set out to deliver an answer to all these problems.  

Next up, we turned our sights on to single-use throwaway plastic utensils. You know the ones you find at virtually every fast food restaurant or deli. Plastic spoons, forks, knives–you name it. The plastics are built to be sturdy so they don’t break while you’re eating but the problem with that is that they take forever (almost literally!) to decompose so it’s easy to see why plastic utensils are some of the most destructive products in the history of mankind. We have to curb the use and production of single-use plastics before it’s too late.  The SPORQ is a compact, convenient solution to this problem.

Just like with the STRO, we wanted the SPORQ to be super durable, compact, and easy to use. What’s the use of all that portability if you’re not happy with the way it works in daily use? It’s got to feel and work better than the plastic alternatives. So we went with high-quality stainless steel. One side is a spoon head and the other is a fork with a serrated edge that doubles as a knife. We even had the room to toss on a bottle opener. You’re going to love eating your meals with your SPORQ. The spoon head is smaller than a tablespoon, so it will help you with portion control while you pace yourself. The SPORQ fits comfortably in your handle, from either end. 

It’s no exaggeration to say that billions of plastic utensils fill the world’s landfills and oceans on an almost yearly basis! World governments are finally realizing the long-term impact all this waste is having on our environment and on our sea life. One simple change in daily habits–like using reusable utensils in place of plastics–can have a profound impact. Our goal with the SPORQ is to create an effective, durable, and easy-to-use stainless steel utensil that could discretely attach to your keychain, belt, or bag. All SPORQ’s will include a stainless steel clip for maximum portability and tiny magnets help the unit elegantly snap and hold together. 

We estimate that if you replace your average daily use of plastic utensils and straws with both the SPORQ and STRO, you could potentially save over 25 times(!) the equivalent weight of single-use plastic material over the course of a typical year. Now imagine if millions of people made the switch to reusables like ours. It truly adds up in profound ways. The future can be brighter for us and for our children with a few simple habitual changes. 

You can enjoy a premium eating experience on the go with the SPORQ 4-in-1 reusable spoon, fork, knife, and bottle opener set to help save the planet one meal at a time. It’s lightweight and durable, and it’s great for virtually all meal types. Soups, salads, cereal, fruits, veggies, yogurt, eggs–you name it. The SPORQ is perfect for camping, on-the-go, at the office, or at any fast food establishment. You owe it to yourself to dine out in style with the SPORQ.  We expect to ship both the SPORQ and the STRO in April 2021 which is just a few short months away.   

In late 2015, Juka Innovations Corporation was started in Glen Cove, NY by Serge Karnegie and Solyman Najimi–two long-time friends. Serge and his wife, Elena, were fed up with their ever-clogging bathtub drains. You see, the couple had two young daughters and multiple pets in their original apartment, so it was no surprise that their drains clogged so often. Serge perfected his original TubShroom design and, along with the help of Solyman, the duo brought it to the masses via a Kickstarter campaign, which turned out to be the launchpad the fledgling company needed to go on to become the leader in eco-friendly drain protection that it is today.

Dear backers,

Some of you have been with us since our very first project launched in 2015, and some of you will join the “Shroom” family for the first time. Regardless, we are very thankful for your support and trust in the quality of our products. Thanks to our early adapters, our original TubShroom was born, eventually becoming the #1 best-seller on Amazon and at many major big box retail stores. We’re proud to say that since the launch in 2015, we have helped to protect close to 6 million drains worldwide.

We must say that there were a few bumps on the road. Inventory shortages, shipping delays, intellectual property battles, and more. We have had to learn the ins and outs of plumbing, drainage, and product design. Our team’s focus is on producing innovative products that save people money, solve real-world problems, and that look great.

Thank you for taking this journey with us. We promise to do our utmost to continue to provide amazing products and terrific support. Please reach out to us at support@tubshroom.com with any questions you have on our previous products or for any topic you have not seen covered in this campaign.

Sincerely,

Solyman N., Co-Founder