Do we really need a plastic straw to drink a glass of water? Here are a few things you didn't know about the most short-lived drinking tool ever created.
They're everywhere, and we use them for drinking soda, water, coffee, milkshakes, and many other beverages.
But the worst thing is that they're only used once and immediately discarded.
Could we live without plastic drinking straws? Yes, we could. And how would putting them aside change our planet for the better? That's an easy one.
It would save the lives of millions of marine animals and seabirds and reduce the amount of plastics ending up in our oceans and landfills.
Make no mistake: these drinking tools are among the top 10 marine debris items.
Unfortunately, most plastic straws are made from polypropylene - a petroleum-based plastic - and don't get recycled.
Numbers and Actions
Every single day, US consumers use over 500 million plastic straws. In other words, 182,500,000,000 straws are used every year only in the United States.
They could be used to wrap the earth's circumference 2.5 times a day. But the effort to reduce the number of plastic straws must involve consumers, businesses, and schools.
Saying "no" to plastic straws requires a simple action.
If you start the movement at your local restaurant or favorite fast-food chain, they'll get the message and realize they could save money by banning them.
But if you still think you need them in your daily life, get yourself a washable and reusable drinking straw made from stainless steel, glass, paper, or bamboo, and make a difference.
Several start-up companies are producing great alternatives to traditional plastic straws. Switching to eco-friendly solutions will have a profound impact on the environment.
Learn how to reduce the use of plastics.