Reasons to adopt the reusable straw
Check out a list of reasons to adhere to the reusable straw and reduce the environmental impacts generated by the plastic straw
Edited and resized image from SWZLE, is available on Unsplash
Straws have been used since ancient times, but the evolution to disposable plastic models was a bad choice, as it brought significant environmental consequences. There are those who say that the best way to avoid the consumption of plastic straw is to drink straight from the cup, but there are also several models of reusable straw. Meet some of them and see attitudes you can adopt. Using a reusable straw is the best way to avoid the environmental impact of plastic straws.
- Understand the environmental impact of plastic waste on the food chain
- Know the types of plastic
History of using the straw
The first straws date back to 3000 BC. They were made by the Sumerians to avoid the solid by-products of beer fermentation, which were left in the bottom of the glass. The straw was basically a gold tube decorated with blue precious stones, reminiscent of the chimarrão and tererê bomb used by the gauchos.
In 1800, the rye (or straw) straw became popular because it was cheap and soft. The downside is that it dissolves easily on contact with water and gives all drinks a rye flavor. To solve this problem, the paper straw appeared, which, in 1888, was adapted and patented by Marvin C. Stone.
With the invention of plastic, straws started to be made on a large scale with this type of material.
- Where do they come from and what are plastics?
Environmental impact of using the non-reusable straw
The non-reusable plastic straw represents 4% of all plastic waste in the world and, as it is made of polypropylene and polystyrene (plastics), it is not biodegradable and can take up to a thousand years to decompose in the environment!
The production of the disposable plastic straw contributes to the consumption of oil, a non-renewable source; and its usage time is very short - about four minutes. But what is four minutes for us is equivalent to hundreds of years of pollution for the environment.
- What are biodegradable products?
If we use six millimeter diameter straws as an example, the volume occupied by the total used by Brazilians in a year is equivalent to a cube with a 165 meter edge, 50 meters taller than the Copan building in São Paulo.
sergio souza image by Unsplash
If we stack the straws consumed by Brazilians in a year on a 2.10 meter high wall, it would be possible to go around the Earth completely, in a line over 45,000 kilometers wide!
Present on beaches, the disposable plastic straw is also a source of microplastic formation, the most harmful form of plastic, which is already present in food, salt, organisms and even drinking water worldwide.
And it's no use using the disposable plastic straw, throwing it in the trash and thinking everything is fine. Even if properly disposed of and taken to legal landfills, the straw can escape by the action of the wind (mainly because it is light) and be carried by rain to seas and rivers, impacting all aquatic fauna. It is estimated that 90% of marine species have ingested plastic products at some point. Understand this theme better in the articles:
- There are microplastics in salt, food, air and water
- The danger of microplastics in exfoliants
- What is the origin of the plastic that pollutes the oceans?
- Plastic straw stuck in turtle nostril removed by researchers
- Whales and dolphins suffer from excess plastic waste in the ocean
- Marine pollution causes tumors in turtles
Reusable straw options
Check out some reusable straw models you can adopt.
1. Reusable bamboo straw
Image: Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis on Unsplash
The reusable bamboo straw is a great alternative, as it comes from a renewable source (bamboo). It is washable, natural and light.
2. Reusable silicone straw
Despite being reusable, the silicone straw is not recyclable and, one day, due to wear and tear, it will need to be discarded. However, if it is not made from petrolatum, it will not show toxic effects to the human body and, once in the environment, it is less harmful than a conventional plastic straw, as it breaks into smaller particles after a few weeks, which end up breaking down. oxidize back to the natural forms of silica, carbon dioxide and water.
However, if it is made from silicone with petrolatum, depending on the amount that can eventually end up in the human body or the environment, it can cause harmful effects such as allergies, eutrophication and contamination of soils and water bodies.
- What is eutrophication?
Learn more about this topic in the articles: "Silicone: what is it, what is it for and what are its impacts" and "What is petrolatum?".
3. Reusable glass straw
Edited and resized image of GlassDharma, available on Flicker under CC BY 2.0 license
Okay, now you can drink your coconut water guilt-free! After all, despite not being biodegradable, the glass straw is recyclable, safe, portable, durable and, on top of that, elegant.
4. Reusable metal straw
Image: Beegreen/Disclosure
Despite being less light than straw, bamboo and paper straws, metal straws can be taken anywhere. They can be made from stainless steel, surgical steel and aluminum. This type of straw can be purchased in sets and come with built-in cleaners. They are non-toxic and there are many designs and sizes in the metallic style.
- Why adhere to stainless steel straw?
5. Chimarrão bomb
Image: davide ragusa on Unsplash
For those who already have a chimarrão pump at home and have never thought of using it as a reusable alternative to a disposable plastic straw, you can start using it from now on. Some chimarrão pumps (or tererê, in the cold version) have screw-on bombillas (metallic strainer in the shape of a spoon, with small holes to filter the grass), which means that you can switch their use between pump and straw, as needed. . Some come with a built-in cleaner for easy cleaning, but you can also purchase the cleaner separately.
6. Use only the cup or drink straight from the coconut
With the exception of people who have a disease that prevents them from eating with cutlery and hygiene issues (taking it in an unsanitary tin, for example), a straw is not necessary. So how about using the good old cup? But it cannot be disposable!
7. Dispose correctly
Not everything in life goes as planned. Sometimes the use of a straw ends up being compulsory, even if you advise the waiter that you don't want a non-reusable straw - and that's one of the reasons many cities are passing laws banning the use of plastic straws. If this happens, save the straw and dispose of it correctly, increasing the chances of it being recycled. Check which recycling stations are closest to your home on the free search engine on eCycle portal. Lighten your footprint and contribute to the circular economy of plastic.
- New Plastics Economy: the initiative that rethinks the future of plastics
To find out how to reduce your consumption of plastic waste, take a look at the article: "How to reduce plastic waste in the world? Check out essential tips".
Ecological awareness goes beyond the use of reusable straw
The practice of conscious consumption is not limited to the use of a reusable straw. Within this scope, it is necessary to rethink what you eat, how you discard your waste, wear it, pants; what you use for the hygiene of your own body, home, workplace, among other forms of consumption. But putting ecological awareness into practice goes beyond the question of consumption. In addition to this posture, rethink the political-economic issues that surround you and how you, individually and collectively, can act in favor of sustainable development.