Cathy Kim - Plastic Straws and Their Effect on Our Environment

Plastic straws come in various shapes, sizes, colors and designs and can be cool to use with your favorite cup and type of drink, however they’re definitely not cool for the environment. According to the National Park Service, it’s been estimated that we use approximately 500 million of these one time use straws every single day. It is no wonder that out of the 8 million tons of plastic that makes its way into our world’s oceans each year, plastic straws are one of the top contributors.
    Most of the straws that we “throw away” don’t actually make it through the mechanical recycling sorter due to their slender shape and light weight. Sometimes these straws that don’t make it end up coming into contact with other materials which could then could lead to contaminating recycling loads or end up with other garbage. Moreover, these straws end up in our oceans often times because of littering, being left behind on beaches or other public facilities, or blown out of filled-to-the-brim trash cans.
    When these plastic straws finally do end up in the ocean, they break down into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic (otherwise known as microplastics) instead of biodegrading, which poses a great danger to all marine life. According to the scientists at the UGA New Materials Institute conducted a study that has found microplastic particles that are smaller than dust inside baby sea turtles and the baby turtles used during this research, 100% of them were found to have ingested plastic.
    Amongst all this, there are some positives. For instance, big brands such as Starbucks have announced their plans to make the switch to strawless lids, as some of you may have seen already when getting your cup of coffee, and some cities across the nation such as Seattle, WA and Malibu, CA have begun to pass laws to entirely ban these plastics. Furthermore, there are more eco friendly alternatives such as metal straws that have a much longer lifespan than plastic straws and are widely available.

Questions:
Why do you think people aren’t so willing to switch from plastic to more eco-friendly alternatives?
Why do you think companies are not as willing to make the switch?
Do you think straws are necessary?

Sources:
https://www.strawlessocean.org/faq/
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/388949-nyc-considers-ban-on-disposable-plastic-straws
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/04/plastic-straws-ocean-trash-environment/
https://people.com/food/starbucks-eliminating-plastic-straws-environmental-impact/

Comments

Anonymous said…
This was a very sad and enlightening post. I think we all recognize that the use of one-use plastics (such as plastic straws and bags) are degrading to the environment, but so many people are reluctant to make any changes! Companies may be hesitant to change their ways, as they might fear that customers will complain about inconveniences and they may lose revenue. However, the environmental issues related to one-time use plastics are becoming so severe that it would be considered time to make a change. Microplastics can be toxic to marine life, in extreme cases causing starvation and death. It’s time to make a change and regulate the use of one-time-use plastics.
February 16, 2019 at 1:24 PM
Anonymous said…
Plastic straws has become a hot topic recently. They seem so insignificant when we use them, but your post shows how harmful they can be to the environment. They’re convenient, one-time use items that we just throw in the trash after we’re done consuming our drink. I did a bit of research and it turns out that Starbucks alone sells around eight million drinks a day, and they claim they sell almost 4 billion cups of coffee annually. That would be 4 billion straws used every year by Starbucks consumers alone. Thankfully, alternatives to the plastic straw have started to become more popular, like the biodegradable paper straws and reusable metal straws. Sure, they would be more expensive in the beginning, but it would cost less to buy an environmentally friendly version of a straw than it is to try and fix the environment that we destroy by using plastic straws.
February 16, 2019 at 8:26 PM
Anonymous said…
Plastic straws are detrimental to our environment. I had just been recently made aware of this issue, and your post made this much more clearer. Through research I have found that straws floating in the ocean can be hazardous for all ocean life. Turtle can get these straws stuck in their noses, how sad! I believe that a changing these regular plastic straws to reusable eco-freindly straws could be the key in reducing the harm these straws have on our environment. One reason I believe people do not want to make this change is because they are lazy. These people do not want to put in the effort to pay and extra dollar on these reusable straws, or do not want to spend anytime washing them out after every use. Despite these setbacks reusable straws can better our environment and make it a better place for animals to live.
February 16, 2019 at 9:27 PM
Anonymous said…
Despite the fact that the harm of plastic straws has gained notoriety, many refuse to switch to more environmentally friendly options. Within the home, people have the option of switching to metal/glass straws that last much, much longer than a plastic straw would; not only does this option present a sustainable solution for the environment, but it is also more cost-efficient. Additionally, bigger companies/restaurants can make the switch from plastic straws to biodegradable straws. Some companies, such as Starbucks, are being praised for switching from plastic straws to compostable plastic straws — composable plastic, however, is not nearly as sustainable as its name implies. Composable plastic is not the same thing as biodegradable; composable plastic will not break down faster than regular plastic unless its disposed of by a proper commercial composer, which, often times, it is not. Therefore, companies shouldn’t prematurely praised for switching to a “sustainable” option of straws, and should rather be encouraged to fully make the switch to biodegradable straws completely.
February 17, 2019 at 6:45 AM
Anonymous said…
I always knew how bad plastic was for the environment, but it’s still crazy how an everyday object that most of us don’t think twice about using has such a negative effect on the planet. Along with plastic straws, I’m sure we’re all aware of six-pack rings polluting the oceans. Because these plastic rings are transparent, animals can’t see them in water and often end up tangled in the loops which can cut into their skin and constrict their movement, leading to extensive injuries and sometimes death. Plastic rings are one of the worst offenders of water pollution, but steps are being taken to find an alternative. Saltwater Brewery has created 100% biodegradable and edible rings made from barley and wheat which function just like their plastic counterparts. Although it is obvious that not all companies will go this far to find an alternative, it is a step in the right direction as it shows that there are environmentally friendly options for everyday plastic objects.
February 17, 2019 at 6:29 PM
Anonymous said…
To answer your question, I think that the primary reason why consumers and companies are unwilling to reduce the usage of plastic straws is because of the great convenience that they provide to users. Personally, I do think that straws are helpful when consuming drinks, but that does not excuse the lack of care toward disposing them when their purpose has been fulfilled. Your claim about eco friendly alternatives, such as the metal straws, makes a good point. People in everyday lives are aware about the detrimental consequences of plastic in the environment, but the majority do not take any action toward lessening that impact. Something as simple as using reusable straws and properly disposing plastic trash can work toward bettering the conditions of trash pollution and littering in various ecosystems. Bigger organizations could also stimulate the reduced usage of plastic straws. Since Starbucks has announced their plans to switch to strawless lids, the company has encouraged its frequent customers to understand the significance of not using straws and incorporate environmental alternatives in their individual lives. This shows that companies play a big role in encouraging individuals to utilize environmentally friendly options.
February 18, 2019 at 9:09 AM
Anonymous said…
I always knew that plastic straws were detrimental to our environment, especially in the oceans, but it is truly disheartening to read about the full extent of the damage. In response to some of your questions, I think that people aren't so willing to switch from plastic to more eco-friendly alternatives simply because of convenience and lack of options. Plastic straws are widely accessible in many places and they can be discarded immediately after use while other materials, like biodegradable or metal straws, are less easily obtained and may require washing after every use. This is also due to companies who choose to purchase plastic straws for consumer use, since the economic efficiency of plastic straws outweigh other options in terms of cost and abundance. Although companies like Starbucks are beginning to switch from plastic straws to alternatives, we still have a long way to go. We can spread awareness and encourage everyone to choose more environmentally friendly options next time they go out for a drink to take a step towards minimizing our environmental impact.
February 18, 2019 at 1:18 PM
Anonymous said…
What a well-written blog. With all the awareness of the straws and their effect on our environment and to our wildlife. Companies and people have taken action to reduce the use of straws in our environment. Companies such as Starbucks have decided to switch to using no straws within a few years time, but the amount of straws that will build up in our environment during those couples years is numerous. I did further research and found that straws are the most found litter in our oceans. However, straws are such a big part of our utensils we use for food. Each time we get fast food our drinks come in styrofoam cups with straws, and other foods for kids like caprisuns have straws so the action to remove straws from our homes would be a hard step to overcome, but it can be done with reinforcing reusable straws. Starbucks and other restaurants are offering discounts on drinks for people who have reusable cups to promote using fewer straws in order to help the environment.
February 18, 2019 at 8:39 PM
Anonymous said…
This was a great post on a very topical subject! It is sad how we as humans are harming the environment everyday by using millions and millions of plastic straws. Humans may continue to do this out of convenience and because they are simply cheaper than metal straws. However, in the long run they are in fact more costly for us and the environment. Companies which manufacture plastic products are not willing to halt production as they would be losing business and thus, profits. However, we can use straws made of biodegradable products or metal straws to reduce plastic pollution. When we go to restaurants, we can decline straws as well. These efforts will help reduce the amount of plastic which ends up in oceans.
February 19, 2019 at 9:29 AM
Anonymous said…
A great way to introduce everyone to the detriments of plastic on our environment! Especially with something as common as plastic straws. Many of us do not see the damage plastic has on our environment, mostly because it affects a lot of marine life. It isn’t only plastic straws but any sorts of trash/plastic thrown into the ocean that hurts everyone in the long run. Although it hurts our plants and animals, this can lead to a change in our own way of life as well if we don’t do something quick. Hopefully many other companies walk the path of Starbucks and help start the change of our ways and saving our environment.
February 19, 2019 at 9:30 AM
Anonymous said…
Unfortunately this is another problem that our generation has to tackle. The widespread disregard to the trash that one-time use straws leave behind is incredibly harmful to the environment, as stated before, but they are necessary for some people. Groups like people who are paralyzed, special needs, and some other groups need the use of draws to be able to drink a lot easier. While a different material of straw could be used for the same purpose, plastic is the most readily available for these groups to use. When Starbucks announced it would try to end the use of their straws for the foreseeable future, groups like these spoke out against, but no action has been taken. When / if you decide that straws are unnecessary and nobody NEEDS them, remember that some do.
February 19, 2019 at 11:30 AM
Anonymous said…
Yet another pitfall in the way we live every day are these straws. I am glad to hear about companies like Starbucks making an effort to eliminate them, and hope that other companies follow suit. Something that I have seen on social media and heard about from my friends are metal straws in a special box that fold to be compact in any bag. While in its little case, the straw is disinfected and sanitized, becoming ready for reuse later. We have to be the generation of sustainability in order to keep earth habitable, and initiatives like the fight against plastic straws will take us far.
February 19, 2019 at 11:45 AM
Anonymous said…
Pollution of the ocean is one of the biggest problems we face right now. However, at the same time, I feel blaming so much of the damage on plastic straws is risky. Although it is “one of the top contributors” to the problem, it still only makes up a very small proportion of the pollution, and by focusing all of our attention on straws we ignore other fights worth fighting while only making a slight dent on the actual issue at hand. However, businesses still can make these cuts where possible, and so can we. As individuals, fighting these small fights is what we can do best to help out the environment.
February 20, 2019 at 6:13 AM
Anonymous said…
Plactic straws are seen as one of the most wasteful yet useful objects in our world. We us straws on a everyday basis, with various types of beverages. The distribution of plastic straws are widely spread across the whole world, to the point that a majority of forest and oceanic pollution are covered by plastic straws and products that are made of plastic. The more important, noteworthy point is that plastic straws are difficult to manage and get rid of when decomposing. The solution that we can come up with should be definitely revolving around disabling the poisonous effect that is shown when attempting to get rid of plastic.
February 20, 2019 at 6:14 AM
Anonymous said…
This is a well written post! It is a new and interesting problem that we have to tackle, with all of the waste that ends up in the oceans. I did previously see the legislation put into place that had banned plastic straws, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little bit. I do not think that the solution to this problem is to outright ban straws, because there are some people with special needs that cannot hold a cup with a lid, or situations that make those style of lids not as feasible as a straw. I think that the recycling sorter should be the target for solutions. I wonder what kind of modification needs to be made to the entire system of recycling to keep the smaller pieces from being lost to the wind.
February 20, 2019 at 8:18 AM
Anonymous said…
I had heard about the environmental impacts straws have, but your post really helped deepen my understanding about the specific harm it can cause. Many people are probably reluctant to change their habits on using straws, purely because of the convenience. However, there are many substitutions that are just as convenient and environmentally sustainable. Many stores and coffee shops sell reusable straws, which can be washed and used over and over again. And interestingly enough, there are some environmentally aware companies that have started to make straws out of papaya and bamboo. We still can have access to straws and protect the environment if we can educate others on the detrimental effects of plastic.
February 20, 2019 at 9:48 AM
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
February 20, 2019 at 9:48 AM
Anonymous said…
This post was very informative yet disheartening to read. I've heard about the detrimental impacts of straws to turtle and many other marine animals and your post has only deepened my understanding of this. People choose to use straws due to their simple nature but do not realize that their use can have a very large negative impact. I feel that straws are not necessary and are definitely a luxury. Although many children use straws, there is no reason that adults should use them as there are many other alternatives to their use. Many companies have created environmentally friendly straws and other products that can replace this damaging use of straws.
February 20, 2019 at 6:09 PM
Anonymous said…
As people continue to use more plastic products, they produce waste which has harmful effects for the environment. For this reason, it is becoming increasingly important for people to limit their plastic use and waste, and for larger organizations and governments to regulate the use and distribution of plastic products. As an example, in Peru, visitors cannot carry single-use plastics in culturally protected areas or national museums. The decree says the goal is replacing single-use plastics with "reusable, biodegradable plastic or others whose degradation does not generate contamination by micro-plastics or dangerous substances,” as well as limiting animal harm in areas such as Machu Picchu. Regulations like the one enforced in Peru can greatly reduce the plastic waste produced by people and limit the amount of plastic that makes its way into natural environment.
February 21, 2019 at 1:26 PM
Anonymous said…
I have found a trend in these blog posts where something I take for granted turns out to have extreme environmental impacts. Plastic straws are so widely used that it seems like it has to be the best possible solution. Unfortunately, they're the cheapest financially, but extremely expensive environmentally. More eco-friendly alternatives are usually more costly to produce and therefore more costly to buy. This harms the straw industry for both producer and consumer, so both sides are going to be against the switch. While straws are unnecessary in most cases, most fast food places that are required to provide take-out cups need to provide lids to cups which need straws to drink from. Plastic is simply the cheapest, even though it's not the most sustainable.
February 21, 2019 at 8:31 PM
Anonymous said…
It is surprising just how large the magnitude of this problem is; I did not expect there to be hundreds of millions of straws thrown away. When considering your questions, I absolutely do not think that straws are a necessity, especially plastic straws. For example, one can simply use a little bit of energy, move the cup towards their mouth, and sip from the tip of the cup. Moreover, there are many alternatives to plastic straws. For example, companies are now also making metal reusable straws, and these are extremely viable. One such company I remember hearing about through Shark Tank goes by the name of FinalStraw, and their metal straws are reusable, environmentally friendly, and aesthetic. In fact, my physics teacher even has one of these straws, and they are gaining popularity. However, the problem is people are simply used to the convenience of a plastic straw at a restaurant, and they don't want to carry around their own straw. Moreover, creating a mindset shift towards not using straws is difficult, making this problem tough to solve. However, it is still a problem that needs to be solved.
February 21, 2019 at 8:33 PM
Anonymous said…
It is a fascinating how large of an effect a small piece of plastic can have. I think it is important to educate the public about the effects of a mindless task such as using a straw can have on the environment. Thankfully, the news of how bad straws are for the environment has been shared across the internet and various social media platforms. This exposure has generated business for reuseable straw companies and sizable lids. Howevver, although this exposure has generated wave of plastic straw bans swept the world in 2018, experts say it will take much more to slow plastic waste filling oceans and fouling the food chain.
February 21, 2019 at 9:38 PM
Anonymous said…
I think a reason that people are reluctant to switch from plastic straws to eco-friendly alternatives is convenience. Most people are used to using straws on a daily basis, at any restaurant, specifically fast food restaurants, plastic straws are accepted as commonplace, and the environmental impact of using too many straws is just an afterthought. Similarly, companies are probably also not willing to move on from plastic straws because of convenience and economic reasons. It is cheaper and more efficient for the company to mass produce plastic straws than to proudce eco-friendly materials. I think a solution to both these problems is simple awareness of the destructive power of straws, like you outlined in your post, and government incentives to companies who choose to get rid of plastic straws in favor of more eco-friendly materials.
February 21, 2019 at 9:43 PM
Anonymous said…
Plastic straws undoubtedly pollute oceans and are not biodegradable. The best solution for minimizing the use of plastic straws is providing financial incentives to companies that produce eco-friendly straws. This will increase the quantity of eco-friendly straws and will stimulate more competition within the straw industry, benefitting both the producer and the consumer. Educational campaigns against plastic straws may also help consumers be more conscious of their decisions, provided that the campaigns are effective.
February 22, 2019 at 4:50 PM
Anonymous said…
It is very disheartening to see something that is made up of a small amount of plastic is having such dire effects on the oceans and the Earth's atmosphere. Straws are so commonly used and though they are a luxury, I can see them being useful enough to be necessary. That's why instead of completely stopping the use of straws, I think people should start using eco-friendly versions such as straws made out of bamboo, metal, and glass that can be reused or properly recycled and not end up as garbage.
February 22, 2019 at 7:35 PM
Anonymous said…
This issue has been brought up recently and has received quite a bit of attention. You don’t really think about how often straws are used until you start paying attention to how much you use them. Every time you go out to a restaurant, you drink out of a straw. With this many straws being disposed of everyday, the environment is sadly facing consequences. It’s a good thing, however, that alternatives such as metal straws are available. This post was extremely insightful on the harm consequences a small object such as a straw can possess.
February 22, 2019 at 7:46 PM
Anonymous said…
This post was very interesting and concerns a cause that has only recently become well known. It’s crazy to think of the drastic impacts a small piece of plastic can have on marine life and the overall health of the environment. The issue of plastic straws is becoming more well known as several youtubers and influencers on other platforms are bringing light to the subject. I definektu think the strawless starbucks cup is a great start to resolving this issue. However, since coffee and going to cafes is such a widespread trend for our generation, it’s harder to totally stop the use of plastic straws.
February 23, 2019 at 8:36 AM
Anonymous said…
Plastic straws have definitely been on the radar recently for their environmental impact, and I think they highlight exactly how our little, throw-away actions really build up on the environment. Given their recent publicity, it would make sense for people to become more aware of their use of straws, and of their trash prodcutoin in general, but it seems that people are reluctant to make such a small change. I believe the reason consumers and companies don’t want to make the switch is that plastic straws are convenient to get and convenient to make. Getting rid of straws is not a huge lifestyle change, but it is a change, and I think that’s why people are reluctant to give straws up. Seeing consumers and companies like Starbucks take the initiative to make this change is really encouraging and shows that making the effort to give up plastic straws is worthwhile. Whether it be through not using them at all, getting straws made from alternate materials, or reusing them, either as straws or for DIY projects and such, we can reduce the impact of plastic straws on th environment.
February 24, 2019 at 10:37 AM
Anonymous said…
Straws are, without a doubt, a huge factor in increasing profit margins for companies. As a result, most companies most likely choose not to change a more environmentally friendly version of straws to cut costs. Finding alternate options force companies to expend time and money which ultimately lowers profit. It is very common to see companies disregard their impact on the environment just to increase profits ever so slightly. Mining companies, as we learned in class, used to care very little for their impact on habitats and environments in order to spend little labor as possible. This was later regulated by the governement. If we are to make a change in the beverage and food industries we have to be willing to come up with a better, more environtally friendly alternative to straws that are just as cheap as normal straws, otherwise plastic straws will continue to litter the environment.
February 24, 2019 at 9:48 PM
Anonymous said…
This was a very informative blog post. I knew the dangers of plastic straws but I was not aware of the extent. I think metal straws are a very effective alternative. I know in California, paper straws are the normal (although they start to disolve in your drink). However, I think the best way to combat straw pollution is to invest in research that develops biodegradable straws.
February 25, 2019 at 2:20 PM
Anonymous said…
The plight of the plastic straw can be a hard one, but there have been efforts to make it easier to recycle these. With them coming in such abundance, it is currently not an answer to just throw them out because of the effects that they can have on marine life. Instead, the reduction of straws is always the answer, but if it is not readily available, then the solution is putting all the straws into a recyclable container all together so that they do not get caught in the machinery.
February 26, 2019 at 7:20 AM
Ella scott said…
The blog is written in a unique way and it is true that environment is being polluted slowly, but one day it will come to an end which will start causing problems to human life and will hamper our living, therefore for a small step I have already started using biodegradable products like the biodegradable straw and spoons.
November 10, 2020 at 10:33 PM
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