The ubiquitous plastic drinking straw. While this simple tool has helped quench our thirst for decades, it has also been a devastating addition to our environment. Over the last few years, the extent of their far-reaching impact has finally been recognized. Developed in the early 1960s to improve upon the paper original, the plastic straw is now discarded by American consumers at a rate of over 500 million per day.
Yes, 500 million a day. And that is only by Americans. It is estimated that over 8.3 billion plastic straws have either washed up or have been discarded on the world’s beaches. There is little doubt that the non-biodegradable plastic straws will become one of the most abundant archeological markers for our species long after homo sapiens have disappeared.
But the tide is finally turning on this tiny, pervasive tube of plastic. Cities worldwide are banning its use within their borders. Alaska Airlines was the first carrier to phase out both plastic straws and plastic stir sticks. United Airlines followed suit while additionally replacing their plastic stir sticks with eco-friendly bamboo versions.
McDonald’s fast-food restaurants in the UK and Ireland are turning to alternatives. In 2020, Starbucks coffee shops ditched the ubiquitous little tube for a polypropylene lid that is recyclable.
Our coffee-drinking, candy-bar-eating staff took it upon themselves to shelve their traditional plastic toothbrushes and give an assortment of sustainable toothbrushes a whirl.
Today’s archeologists theorize that the original utensil evolved from the stem of wild ryegrass. A century ago, it became a minute tube of waxy paper and then, with the advent of plastic, it became the incredibly durable product we have now. Paper straws are making a comeback, although they are far more environmentally friendly than those slurped through by our grandparents at the local soda shop.
As this seemingly simple utensil is a billion-dollar-a-year industry, there is a growing effort to find alternative materials to make the straw reusable.
Examples of these long-lasting straws are made of glass, silicone, and stainless steel. Some come in the classic straight shape, others are slightly bent for a more ergonomic use, and some have adjustable lengths. Most come with cleaning brushes, but each is designed to accompany daily life, to be cleaned and reused like traditional eating utensils.
For most people, drinking straws are a small, almost inconsequential, part of their lives and hardly seem worth the effort. For the world at large, however, the near indestructibility and permanence of plastic straws will continually damage the environment and harm wildlife.
Switching to a personal, reusable straw is a bit of a challenge. After all, you need to take it with you, and it should be cleaned after each use.
It is a minor item, but given the drinking straw’s profusion across the world, moving from a single-use plastic straw to the reusable replacement can have a significant impact on helping the planet.
StrawExpert offers a set of 16 stainless steel straws with various lengths and drinking angles. They use soft silicone tips to ensure a gentle touch. Made from premium silver-colored 18/8 stainless steel, the sustainable straws are FDA-approved, BPA, and lead-free. They are durable, dishwasher safe, washable, rust and scratch-proof. They also come with a travel case and cleaning brush.
Friendly Straw offers telescopic stainless-steel straws with a soft, silicone mouthpiece. The obvious benefit of the straw’s telescoping design is that it can be carried in a small travel case. Made from food-grade stainless steel, the straws are reusable and eco-friendly for the long term. Cleaning can be handled with an included cleaning brush or deferred to the dishwasher. Your choice.
Plasticless offers an eco-friendly alternative that seems like a hybrid between the original paper straw and the modern rigid units. Plasticless straws are plant-based, compostable, and petrochemicals free. While they are sturdy, the straws are bendable but will not become soggy or disintegrate in your drink.
A revolutionary turn from plastic is the glass straws from HeykirHome. Available in both straight and curved tubes, these reusable straws are perfect for cold drinks. They are made from food-grade, borosilicate glass which can withstand high and low temperatures and are crush resistant. They are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and of course, 100% BPA-free. While they come with cleaning brushes, they can also be dishwasher-safe. One downside to the HeykirHome straws is that the glass material can break if dropped and therefore are not the best straw alternative for young children.
