The past few years have not been a kind year to plastic straws. California banned single-use plastic straws in restaurants. And, many cities and businesses embraced the anti-straw movement. At SAVRcup, we support these green causes because throw-away plastic straws are harmful to the environment. Did you know that 500 million plastic straws are used in the US on a daily basis? And most of these straws end up in our oceans polluting the water and killing marine life.
Get with the times, say no to plastic pollution and leave plastic straws behind.
Go with reusable straw alternatives.
We hear you, though. You may want to do something nice for the environment but you or your customers may still need straws for beverages on the go. Fortunately, this is a growing niche and an increasing number of manufacturers are producing high quality reusable straws to satisfy your needs.
Whether you’re an individual or business willing to pledge to a more eco-friendly lifestyle, switching from single-use straws to reusable straws comes with a slew of benefits. Reusable straws are safe to use (wave buh-bye to BPA), easy to clean (pop ‘em in the dishwasher!), portable, reusable (duh), stylish (tell ALL your friends about ‘em) and eco-friendly. Oh and did we mention by ditching plastic straws, you’ll contribute to less waste in landfills and bear a lower economic (and environmental) cost.
Seriously, what are you waiting for? Say hello to your new stylish and eco-conscious reusable straws.
reusable straw size, shape and material.
Now that you’re convinced to go green and embrace reusable straws, it’s time to pick the right straw.
Choosing the perfect reusable straw depends on the liquid and consistency of the beverage you or your customers will be drinking, if you prefer a bent or straight straw and whether you’re looking for straws made from silicone, metal, bamboo or glass. There are straws made from plastic (why?!) and paper but we recommend against these options as they aren’t as eco-friendly and durable.
While at SAVRcup, we especially like bamboo and stainless steel straws, the reusable straws you go with will depend entirely on your situation. Here is a brief, no nonsense guide we approve of to help you choose the reusable straw that’s right for you.
stop using plastic straws for good.
The main problem with straws is that they aren’t recyclable because plastic straws are too lightweight to make it through the mechanical recycling sorter. Instead, throw-away straws get disposed as garbage, hence how they end up in the ocean.
Once in the water, rather than biodegrade or bio dissolve, plastic straws break down into smaller pieces known as “microplastics”, which then can end up in our tap water, seafood and sea salt.
So, stop using plastic straws once and for all because, 1) plastic straws harm wildlife and ecosystems, 2) plastic straws expose humans to toxic chemicals and 3) we use them for mere minutes but single-use plastic straws remain on Earth for centuries.
Taking action against the rampant use of plastic straws is important because straws are among the top 10 items found in beach cleanups. If we don’t take a stand now, it’s estimated that by 2050 our oceans will have more plastic than fish swimming in the polluted waters.
#SAVRMotherNature