Why Plastic Straws Harm the Planet and Eco-Friendly Straw Alternatives

Plastic straws have been around since I was born, I never knew the issues of plastic straws until I became aware of the impact plastic had on our oceans. I think many people have seen the video of a turtle having a plastic straw wedged in its noise. It was a really sad thing to see, but I really had to do my own research on the issue in order to give myself a reason to stop using these straws.

Plastic straws themselves are difficult to recycle. These lightweight straws can’t make it through recycling equipment. However most of the time they don’t get to the recycling point due to human error, being thrown away into bins instantly after use. Eventually being transported to wastes lands or just littered.

It is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish by 2050, that sounds horrible to hear. Having the idea that our seas will be polluted and eventually unusable. That’s why I’ve started to find alternative straw options, the types I have currently found include stainless steel, glass, silicone, paper and bamboo.

Here are the benefits and disadvantages of each type of straw:

Stainless Steel

Benefits:

1. Reusable
2. Durable
3. Doesn’t release chemicals
4. Easy to clean (dishwasher savvy), all straws come with a cleaning brush
5. BPA-free
6. Cheaper in the long-term
7. Travel-friendly
8. Hard to break

Disadvantages:

1. Can be heated up and become very cold quickly—burning and freezing easily
2. There are types of stainless steel, some have toxic metals combined with the steel; when these straws are heated up, the toxins can leach into the drink
3. Washing straw in hot water can cause you to burn yourself
4. Can be harmful for children

Glass

Benefits:

1. Reusable
2. Biodegradable
3. BPA-free
4. Hypoallergenic
5. See through (easy to clean), all straws come with a cleaning brush

Disadvantages:

1. Easy to break
2. Extremely expensive
3. Not safe for children
4. Not good for traveling

Bamboo

Benefits:

1. 100 percent Natural, made out of whole bamboo stalk
2. Reusable
3. Compostable
4. Great for hot and cold drinks

Disadvantages:

1. Mildew—a type of mould that is hard to get rid of once it starts growing inside the straw
2. Not all bamboo is responsibly sourced, potentially decreasing panda food sources

Paper

Benefits:

1. Cheap
2. Compostable
3. Recyclable

Disadvantages:

1. Only can be used once (In my personal opinion)
2. Gets soggy easily

SILICONE

Benefits:

1. Many experts and authorities consider silicone completely safe for food and drink use
2. You can find silicone straws that are BPA-free
3. Flexible
4. Durable
5. Free from harmful carcinogens (substances that cause the formation of cancer), commonly associated with plastic straws
6. Doesn’t leach chemicals when exposed to temperature variations
7. Lightweight

Disadvantages:

1. Some silicone straws contain fillers which make the straws harder to recycle

To test for fillers, just pinch and twist a flat surface on the straw. If white shows through, the product contains a filler. If there is no change in colour, then it is pure silicone.

Personal Opinion

From what I have used in the past year, I’ve decided to use silicone straws for daily use. The reason being that I like the feeling of using this type of straw. As these straws are flexible, they are easy to take on the go and also dishwasher friendly. But the main reason is that it feels better on your teeth, I am a person that does like to bite on a straw. When using a glass and stainless steel straw, it feels uncomfortable biting on your teeth from personal experience.

I hope this gives you enough reason to do the change!