The harm of plastic straws & alternatives!
“It’s just a single straw. After all, what harm can a single straw cause?” said every individual from every corner of the earth. This sums up to millions of straws per day. Yes, the world uses 500 million plastic straws per day. The harm caused by these straws is beyond imagination.
If you haven’t heard, single-use plastic straws are killing and harming marine lives. These straws are polluting the oceans and causing damage to marine plants and wildlife. The use of plastic straws has become a part of our lives for so long. This has blinded us towards the harm caused by them.
That’s shocking, how do these straws harm anyway?
Single-use plastic straws are made of polypropylene plastic. This type of plastic is highly durable, flexible, and can withstand many adversities. They take years and years to decompose. Recycling them will not eradicate the whole straw. It will still remain present in form of small particles instead of fully dissolving. This makes it even more dangerous.
So, the straws that we dispose off in the dustbin, end up in the dumps and the landfills. Now, you might wonder that “Okay, it is hard to recycle and takes more time to decompose, but how does it impact the ocean?”
Well, here’s how it happens…
Straws are light in weight and can easily be blown out from the trash or from the place where they are collected. These are further taken by the birds with an intention to build their nest. Some animals or birds also mistake it as a food particle and consume it. On the death of the animal or bird, the straw still remains and finds its way to the ocean through waterways and drainage systems.
No matter how hard you try to dispose properly or recycle it, the harm will still be there. About 90% of the trash in the ocean is made from plastic. Moreover, plastic straws are among the top 5 items collected on the beach every year. In most places, the plastic straws cannot be recycled and are carried away by the wind, ending up littering beaches, oceans, and waterways.
So…what can we do about it?
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Next time you visit a cafe, restaurant, or street vendor selling juices, shakes, smoothies, and coconut water, avoid using their straws. Reply to them with a firm ‘NO’, as they offer you a drink with a single-use plastic straw.
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Shift to reusable or recyclable alternatives. You can use bamboo straws, stainless steel straws, copper straws, paper straws, or edible plant-based straws. All of them are either reusable or biodegradable. https://awenest.in/productlist?s=straws
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Buy yourself a straw cleaner along with your re-usable straw to maintain hygiene and cleanliness.
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Always carry along your re-usable or biodegradable straws in your purse or bag whenever you go out.
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If you are a vendor selling liquid beverages, make sure to switch to reusable or biodegradable options. You can request your customers to buy straws and re-use them again and again. Give special benefits to customers who choose sustainable options instead of plastic straws. This will motivate others to take the same action.
Single-use plastic straws will be served as long as you accept them as an option. The best way to bring an end to that is by rejecting them whenever they are offered. Your decision of choosing an alternative over a plastic straw will result in the following benefits -
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No threat to marine life
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Less waste dumped in the landfills
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Reduces your cost as a reusable straw can be used for a longer time period
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Reduction in the production of plastic straws
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Passing on a better message to the coming generation
Where can we buy the best eco-friendly straws?
Using a plastic straw is a long-formed habit that needs a light of awareness. The long-term impact of using plastic straws can be extremely harmful if no action is taken today. Begin your journey of conscious consumption with some of our best reusable and biodegradable alternatives for plastic straws.
It is our duty to make sure that when we are enjoying a delicious drink, we are not creating a possibility for someone else to choke!
Let’s co-operate and create a lifestyle that is safe for every living being on this planet with some of the best reusable straws! Explore our store and take action.
Resources -
https://list25.com/25-scary-facts-about-plastic-pollution-thatll-change-your-habits/ -
Author - brinda shah is a freelance content writer. she is a ca turned into a writer who loves to read, write & meditate. you can connect with her on linkedin and on instagram
