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What will they be replaced with? Today we got a glimpse of the eco alternatives that could replace those plastics at the Eco-Marketplace Expo at the Biltmore where 17 organic and environmentally friendly product providers showcased their wares. Event organizer Tanya Mcnab told us why going green is the next big trend:...

Tanya Mcnab, Creative director, Mcnab Visual Strategies
"We're trying to use our voice for people to realize that it's trending to be in the ecospace but not just because that sounds great. I think there are huge business in eco friendly products in conservation practices, and I think that if people, I've done a lot of research on the financial benefits of these projects, If people can build businesses that will be profitable for them that also help the environment then it's an absolute win for everybody."

"We thought that this would be a great place for people to come and see what they can do and what the alternatives are and that's the only way we're going to start to make a change. If everybody does a little bit. I think that everybody has to pick what works for them depending on your line of businesses or what your interested in and if everybody does a little bit of what works for them then i think that this will be incredibly successful in the long run for Belize and the environment."

Cho, Environmental Officer, Department of the environment
"We came out to educated the public We came out to educate the public our visitors today more about the phase out initiative of certain styrofoam and plastic products."

"Well the key thing is that a lot of people when they hear about the phase out they want to know when the decision will be passed when are the specific dates but the thing is certain movements toward going what people would term green you know or doing things for the environment that You protect the environment or you conserve the environment That needs to come from every single person, every Belizean how we live our daily lives. So everytime there is an activity that whether its the tourism sector or if it's the business sector, when we see a move toward environmental protection in those specific sectors. It makes our job easier and then also Belize's environment whether its a terrestrial environment or the marine environment it's protected."

Tanya Mcnab
"I think that people definitely gravitate to a destination that is making an effort to conserve its natural resources because obviously they don't want to come to a reef, or they don't want to come and snorkel and there's trash everywhere or there's plastic everywhere and there's no marine life because they're being affected. So I think that it is extremely important for Tourism. And I think that the Tourism Industry recognizes that."

"I think that the expense of the environment far outweighs any expense that a business has to incur, and I think that it is just a matter of adapting to it. So maybe a clam shell is a little bit more than it was in styrofoam but you know at the end of the day if you see the big difference that it makes you have to understand that that is a cost of doing business and it's a cost of living and the consumer also has to be willing to know that something may cost ten cents more or it may cost a quarter more but it's not just because you want to raise the price it's because. This is the cost to conserve and preserve the environment."

The event went hand in hand with the launch of the conservation issue of the Caribbean, Culture and Lifestyle magazine.