The dangers of plastic straws
30th Mar 2021
The devastating impact plastic pollution has had on our environment is hard to ignore.
Around 300 million tonnes of plastic is manufactured annually worldwide. In the UK only 9% of plastic created has ever been recycled, meaning the rest has either been incinerated or is somewhere in our environment. Approximately half of the plastic produced globally is used only once.
Plastic pollution and marine ecosystems
The discovery of ‘ocean garbage patches’ has woken many up to the scale of the plastic waste problem. 12.7 million tonnes of plastic pollution enter the oceans every year, which is having a devastating effect on wildlife, particularly seabirds feeding from the surface.
Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die every year due to plastic pollution. Microplastics now outnumber plankton in some parts of the ocean.
Non-biodegradable plastic straws
The UK and other individual nations have made moves in recent years to ban single-use plastics, such as drinking straws. The ban came into effect in the UK on 1st October 2020.
Despite the introduction of legislation, 8.3 billion plastic straws are still thought to pollute the world’s beaches. Even with their small size they make up 1% of ocean plastic pollution.
Plastic straws take up to 200 years to break down. Even then, they don’t biodegrade – they simply degrade into microplastics and other harmful by-products.
It is thought the amount of plastic in the oceans will surpass the number of fish by 2050, though some less conservative estimates suggest we may already have reached that point.
Choosing eco-friendly drinking straws
Especially in countries where single use plastics have been banned, it’s easy to switch to more eco-friendly alternatives and reduce individual plastic pollution.
Reusable straws
Aluminium, stainless steel and glass are popular choices for reusable straws. Whilst better than plastic, these options are not without their downsides. As well as being made from limited natural resources, they take a long time to break down. Man-made glass in particular contributes to beach pollution. They can also be dangerous if misused.
Silicone straws are a more flexible option. Whilst still a limited resource, Silicone is naturally occurring, so ultimately leaves less of a footprint than plastic. It also doesn’t absorb or degrade if left in a drink, and poses less of a danger than metal or glass in the event of an accident.
A more sustainable option is bamboo. Bamboo is fast-growing, easily renewable, and doesn’t need chemicals or pesticides to be used during production, helping to maintain nearby wildlife and habitats. Reusable bamboo drinking straws are 100% natural and completely biodegradable!
Disposable straws
If you’re hosting a party or BBQ and need the convenience of disposable straws, there are options available.
Biodegradable plastics such as PLA are considered eco-friendly, but many biodegradable plastics end up in landfill as they can only be composted in special industrial facilities.
Paper straws led the way in replacing single-use plastics. However, paper contaminated by food or drink can’t be recycled. With more paper than plastic currently in UK landfill, it may not always be the most eco-friendly choice. Paper straws are also notorious for disintegrating in drinks or tearing, rendering them useless.
Straws made from edible materials
An exciting biodegradable option is edible straws, such as those made from rice. These are fun if you’re looking for a novelty aspect to your catering and can help spark conversation on the topic of natural materials.
A reliable, 100% compostable and naturally gluten-free option is to use disposable wheat straws. They make use of a by-product collected after the harvesting of grain, reducing waste.
Naturally water-resistant, wheat straws don’t suffer from a lack of strength in the same way paper straws do. They can be left in drinks for hours without dissolving.
With so many environmentally friendly alternatives available, it’s difficult to miss plastic straws at all! Making more eco-friendly choices helps the environment and gives wildlife an opportunity to recover.
FOOGO green offers a wide selection of reusable, reduced waste, toxin-free tableware – including plastic-straw alternatives.
Our blog is also available to aid environmentally responsible purchasing. For example, the article on using eco-friendly dishes to fight plastic pollution is a great way to complement a decision to use non-plastic straws.