Sustainable Straws To Replace Plastic Straws

Human beings and nature have existed in a symbiotic relationship for many years whereby each benefitted the other, however with the advent of industrial revolution and the invention of steam engine, this symbiotic relationship turned into a parasitic one. As the demand for goods increase with increasing populations, we are getting more prone towards producing objects which have a single use utility. In the process we have ended up creating more waste than can be disposed off sustainably by the environment.

Plastic straws intended to be used only once before they can be disposed off, represent a sub part of a larger plastic pollution problem the world is facing. While sipping your favourite drink in a restaurant, do you ever think what becomes of the plastic straw which you casually ditch once you have finished your drink? If you think throwing the straw in a bin relieves you of your duty towards it, you are wrong. What most people seem to neglect is the fact that plastic pollution is real and it is consuming our planet in front of our eyes.

Let us look at why plastic straws are a menace to the environment.

1. Are Non bio-degradable.

2. Most plastic weight is too light to be recycled

3. Combustion of plastic products releases harmful chemicals that further degrade the environment.

4. If these straws are not degrading and entering back into the environmental cycle, where exactly do they go?

5. Bins/trash cans

6. Left on beaches in coastal communities and seaside

7. Emptying these trash cans into storm water drains or gutters

8. Ends up in the ocean where it is damaging the wildlife at an alarming rate. Around 71% of sea birds and 30% of the turtles have been found with plastic in their stomachs and marine life has only 50% mortality rate after ingesting plastic.

The urgency of the situation requires us to look for alternate methods as soon as possible. According to an estimate there could be around 8.3 billion plastic straws on coastlines across the entire world.

Sustainable Straws should replace Plastic Straws

While completely banning the use of straws in order to reduce plastic straw pollution might prove to be most successful than any other scheme, however it is impossible to implement. This is because many people have health conditions which require them to suck in the food or drinks through straws.

So the obvious alternative is to switch towards straws which are made of bio degradable materials and can be reused and recycled.

Stainless Steel Straws

Stainless steel straws in Singapore are becoming a more common alternative to the previously used plastic straws. These straws are made of Grade 304 (food grade) stainless steel, which ensures that they won’t corrode over time nor seep into your drink as you sip from it. The best part is they are insanely cheap, yet extremely durable and absolutely safe to use.

Other materials being employed as alternatives include metal straws, glass straws and bamboo straws. All these materials are completely natural and safe to use. Since these wonderful alternatives are so readily available, you need to ditch the use of plastic straws immediately and help save our planet.