Most straws are made of plastic and are harmful
to the environment. This is because plastic is not biodegradable and does not
break down naturally in the environment. Moreover, plastic straws have been
shown to kill animals and pollute the environment. There have been numerous
documentations of sea animals and fishes dying after consuming plastic straws
due to suffocation or the plastic straws being stuck in their nostrils and
organs. If you are aware and conscious of the environmental damage plastic draws
do, then you can start by using stainless
steel straws instead of plastic straws.
Roughly 437 million to 8.3 billion plastic straws
are on the world’s coastlines, and you can imagine how many more are in the
ocean and harm sea life. The small act of changing from plastic straws to
stainless steel straws can make a big impact on the environment. Here are some
reasons why you should start using stainless steel straws.
Reusable
Perhaps the most important part about stainless
steel straws, and the main difference between them and plastic straws, is that
stainless steel straws are reusable. You are therefore able to use stainless
steel straws over and over again for as long as you maintain and clean them
well.
Stainless steel straws do not corrode and are
very durable. By reusing stainless steel straws, you are reducing your plastic
footprint and reducing the number of plastic straws used, thereby saving the
environment. Stainless steel straws are also dishwasher safe and are easy to
clean and maintain, thus you can reuse them as many times as you want.
Eco-friendly
The manufacturing of plastic, and the burning of
plastic waste generates toxic fumes and harmful gases that contribute to global
warming and air pollution. By using stainless steel straws, you are minimizing
your carbon footprint and reducing the global demand for plastic. Although
stainless steel is not a biodegradable material, it can be reused multiple
times and is durable, unlike single-use plastics.
Free From Toxic Chemicals
Stainless steel straws are free from toxic
chemicals and BPA. Moreover, stainless steel straws are perfect and safe for
either hot or cold drinks. This is unlike some plastic straws, which will
release toxic chemicals and substances when in a hot environment or used for
drinking hot drinks.
Over time, these chemicals will accumulate in
your body and cause numerous serious health problems. Some plastic straws may
also change the taste of the drink or chemically alter the drink if the drink
is hot or if placed in a hot environment such as under the sun. This is because
heat will break down the chemical bonds in plastics and those chemicals can
migrate into the drinks and beverages.
Less Cost
While a single plastic straw is cheaper than a stainless steel
straw, you also have to take into account the cost of environmental
pollution and disposing of plastic items, which are far greater than the
cost of a stainless steel straw.
Single-use plastics
have environmental costs and are very costly for the government as much money
is spent on the clearing of landfills and proper disposal of plastic items.
Governments also have to spend money on ocean clean-ups and fixing the cost of
environmental pollution due to single-use plastics, which are far more
expensive.
