The Epic Story of Reusable Straws

Did you know that disposable, plastic straws are one of the top ten waste items found in beach cleanups worldwide? The problem with these straws is that they don’t biodegrade and can accumulate in landfills or natural environments. Plastic is a non-renewable resource that we need to use much more mindfully.

The Problem of Straws

It is estimated that 500 million disposable straws are used per year. That’s a lot of waste in the environment, in addition to the many plastic to-go lids that are found in the environment. Disposable straws have become increasingly problematic to the environment over recent years because they are non-biodegradable, meaning they never break down in nature. They also release toxic chemicals into the ground when heated. The solution to this problem is simple: reusable straws!

Why Buy a Reusable Straw?

The plastic that is used to make disposable straws doesn’t degrade easily – it takes years for them to break down. Over time, these tiny pieces of plastic find their way into the ocean and animals ingest them. Since they are so lightweight, they don’t travel far before being carried across oceans. When you use a reusable straw, you’re not only improving your health but also protecting our planet!

Stainless Steel Straws

Lent is a time of year in which Christians give up certain indulgences. Dozens of Pennsylvania churches that are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are using Lent as an opportunity to encourage their members to reduce their consumption of single-use plastic.

According to an article in The Washington Post, “each week, parishioners will be encouraged to give up a different item: shopping bags, drinking straws, water bottles, plastic foam and food wrappers.” Similarly, at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in Maryland, “church leaders are asking congregants to fast from single-use plastics, especially straws.”

Focusing on the reduction of plastic straws and other single-use plastics during the weeks of Lent is a brilliant way for religion to lead the way in sustainability. Through our religious holidays and rituals, we have the spiritual technology to save the planet. The only question is, will we rise to the occasion?

Which Reusable Straw?

Reusable straws can be a safer way to drink while taking care of our environment. Food-grade silicone, 17/9 stainless steel, and reusable BPA-free plastics represent the most commonly used substitutes for plastic straws. The most popular reusable straws are flexible, portable, and some are even collapsible straws that can either be bent or collapsed into two.

Stainless steel is the most durable alternative, but thermal transference when drinking hot and cold beverages, and whether there is a wider straw for beverages, such as thick smoothies, should also be taken into account when deciding which straw to buy.