Paper Straws
Posted by: r23
13th Jan 2024 09:58pm
Hi folks,
What are your thoughts on paper straws. Do you think they are actually environmental friendly? Do you think they are efficient enough and do a good job ?
What are your thoughts on paper straws. Do you think they are actually environmental friendly? Do you think they are efficient enough and do a good job ?
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Comments 6
baccus
Paper straws are certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to reducing plastic waste, but they do have their challenges. In Australia, where our beautiful beaches and marine life are such an integral part of our identity, cutting back on single-use plastics is crucial. Paper straws decompose much faster than plastic, making them far less harmful to the environment, which is a big win for sustainability.
That said, they’re not without their flaws. I’ve noticed they can go soggy fairly quickly, which isn’t ideal if you’re sipping on a milkshake or a smoothie. There’s also the question of how they’re produced—if the process isn’t environmentally sound, it could offset some of their benefits. Personally, I think reusable straws made from materials like stainless steel or bamboo are an even better option. But as a single-use alternative, paper straws are a good compromise, and with further innovation, they can be made even more efficient.
Pinkie31820124
I dont get any straws unless people have special needs ...Its just our future lives and environment (health of land air water) Ban all single use plastic now
jatz50
Some paper straws are strong and are good with a drink. You can't wipe out straws altogether though as I suffer reflux and it is much better for me to drink from a straw then drinking from the glass. I don't like the metal straws as they hit your teeth and scare the living daylights out of me. At least the paper breaks down. Some are better than others though. I do have a reusable straw that I carry in my handbag and it has it's own case that you put it back into but I can't be bothered using it and you have to remember it is yours as they take the glass away when you aren't looking at places.
funnysag
They are better than plastic however if everyone carried their own straws for drinking like a metal straw
kidwithsmurf
My thoughts are, we should do away with straws altogether where possible. If you can't do away with straws, everywhere should sell reusable straws. Reusable straws aren't fully the answer. However, they are less likely to end up being thrown away, going into landfill or the environment/water ways. I believe that reusable straws would work like the one bag for good at the supermarket. This is because people these days are being trained to take one bag shopping and therefore would get used to taking one straw everywhere. If need be, you could buy a couple of reusable straws and keep one in the car, one in your house and one at work for example. That way you always have one and don't need to buy another because you forgot it.
Likewise, with reusable straws, most people these days are crazed on Stanley/Yeti cups that have the lid with the straw built in. This would work like the reusable straw, except you just buy a Stanley/Yeti and pour all your drinks into it. This would further solve the need to use any kind of straw that could damage our environment/water ways or end up in landfill.
Further more, I'm pro reusable straw because according to a bbc.com article, paper straws contain more "forever chemicals" – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS – than plastic. This means even though paper straws are more biodegradablek, the forever chemicals in them are detrimental to our water supplies, environment and can cause a slew of health issues. Likewise, a paper straw lasts for two or three sips before you either throw it away, get a new straw or just start drinking without a straw. Therefore, if you need multiple paper straws per drink, then the forever chemicals will outweigh the benefits of the straw being biodegradable in the first place.
Overall, I'm not saying go out and start using plastic straws again, but paper could be just as bad even though they biodegrade. Hence, as per above, I'm pushing for more reusable straws or Stanley/Yeti straw lid cups to be used as I believe paper straws do not serve their purpose adequately enough and aren't as environmentally friendly as they are marketed.
harry31626210
I write this answer as I sit in a cafe, sipping iced tea through my first ever paper straw.
The first impression was good. Before I put it to use, it had a nice feel to it, better than any plastic straw I've yet used. I then inserted it into the tea. The straw was easily sturdy enough to push through the X-shaped opening in the lid; at this point, I prefer it to the plastic alternative.
I sip. I sip some more. Two thirds done, and the straw is a mess. After some light use, it lost much of its strength and collapsed under the pressure at the lid's opening. Not much of a problem—it is a simple matter to remove it from the lid, straighten it, and continue lidless. Some more light use, and it burst at the spiral seam, rendering it useless as a straw. If I may correct my initial claim: “I write this answer as I sit in a cafe sipping iced tea directly from a cup, my first ever paper straw by now a mangled mess off to the side.”
Small sample size, I realize, but at this point, I am not particularly inclined to increase it.