Plastic straws are one of the top 10 most picked up items during beach clean-ups. This is a huge problem considering plastic is non-biodegradable. Essentially, plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, but it never truly goes away. Not only are straws not biodegradable, but they also contain BPA, which cannot be recycled. Straws also become entangled in marine animals and can be consumed by fish. These straws can get stuck in sea turtles noses and threaten their lives.
It’s estimated that 19 billion pounds of garbage enter the ocean every single year, which is approximately 34 times the size of Manhattan. To help reduce the amount of waste that enters the ocean and keep our planet healthy for future generations, commit to a small change in your routine and purchase a reusable straw. Here are a few of the best reusable straws on the market that are fairly cheap and easy to clean.
#SpoonTip: All of these straws can either be cleaned by hand with soap and water, thrown into your dishwasher, or recycled.
1. Aardvark Straws
Also known as “The Original Paper Straw,” these are made in the USA. Aardvark Straws are eco-friendly, marine degradable, and compostable. You can purchase a pack of 24 straws for $7.99.
#SpoonTip: I recommend buying these straws if you’re hosting a party since they can be thrown away.
2. Simply Straws
These glass straws are super durable and are biodegradable (even the packaging is compostable). Made in California, these straws are not “one-time-use,” which is much better for the planet. They cost about $8 to $10 per straw.
3. Eco-Straws
Eco-straws sells a variety of reusable straws. You can purchase straws made from wheat, bamboo, stainless steel, glass, or titanium. For a bamboo straw, the total price is £34.99 for 50 of them.
#SpoonTip: Metal straws conduct heat, so be careful if you’re using them for warm beverages.
4. Greenpaxx Cool Straws:
Non-toxic silicone, BPA-free, and eco-friendly? Count me in. Greenpaxx Cool Straws are super easy to clean because they come in two pieces. A 4-pack of these is just $10.95.
5. LOLISTRAW
Lolistraw is the world’s first edible straw. The color and flavor comes from fruit and vegetable pigments, so it’s as if you’re drinking a smoothie or juice. If you don’t want to eat it, you can just compost it. Right now, you can only preorder this straw.
Easy Ways to Limit Plastic Use
1. Stop plastic straw use in restaurants or bars. We know you look classy with the straw in your cocktail, but you really don’t need it.
2. Reusable Bags. Love them, use them every chance you can.
3. Be careful with take-out. Ask for no plastic utensils, and if you’re dining out and don’t finish your meal, bring a reusable container to put your leftovers in.
4. Know what you’re recycling and what goes in each waste bin. Knowledge is power. Here’s a complete guide to recycling you might find handy.
5. Use reusable mugs or water bottles. You can even get discounts at some places, including Starbucks and probably any local coffee shop in your city or town.
6. Try to buy items in bulk rather than single servings, and try to limit frozen food purchases. More often than not, frozen food is packaged in plastic in order to preserve the contents of the food inside, which creates much more waste than needed.
7. Be careful with online shopping. Oftentimes our purchases get delivered with a huge amount of excess plastic and paper.
8. Bring your own garment bag and hangers to the dry-cleaner.
As humans, we’ve really pissed Mother Nature off. By not being aware of our actions and the consequences that follow, we’ve dug ourselves into a very deep hole. It’s on us to be better and be more careful with our waste. If you’re just starting to research sustainable swaps and are unsure how best to help our planet, start with small swaps like purchasing reusable straws. It’s a small change, but one that can have a big impact.