So, I don't need to go on and on about how horrible plastic straws are. If you're reading this, then you already know. But how do you find the perfect alternative?
Plastic straws are really convenient. Although many people say (including me at times) that you don't need a straw at all, there are some cases where I see how it can come in handy.
I grew up drinking straight from the glass. But here is why... In Europe, you get your drinks usually without any ice. If you ask for some ice during a hot summer day, you get two to three cubes at most. In the U.S. it's the opposite. You fill up your glass with ice to the very top, and then pour in your drink. So, I can see how it can become difficult drinking straight out of a glass that contains 90% ice.
So how do you choose what straw alternatives to get? I put together some pros and cons for each and hope that they'll help you decide.
Let's start with the standard. Most people turn to metal straws as the #1 alternative.
The pros are obvious.
... Long lasting
... Easy to clean
... Make your drink taste even colder!
You can probably reuse a metal straw endlessly. They're super easy to clean. They also come in all sorts of shapes and forms. Small straws, long straws, curved ones, collapsable ones. You name it and they probably have it.
One thing I've heard people complaining about is that they don't like the metalic taste it has. Personally, I haven't noticed it. It may depend on where you buy them from, though! One solution for that is to buy metal straws with silicone tips. That will definitely help out.
Another alternative is using silicone straw or hard plastic straw. So, many people tend to be 100% against plastic. I think that plastic in itself is not a bad material. It has a purpose. It is meant to be a lasting material, but unfortunately it’s not treated as such. I am not against the hard plastic straws because they definitely have some longevity!
Some things I've noticed with the silicone and hard plastic straws is that they do tend to get "rough" around the edges. It is natural that we tend to bite the straw and this is the main reason for it. Also, you really need to clean them well and will definitely need a brush.
There are also other alternatives. I've seen bamboo straws and even glass straws. I personally haven't tried those ones out. But I think that the bamboo straw is a good on-the-go alternative.
My personal favorite is the collapsable metal straw. It is much easier to carry around and put away when you're done using it.
But I do want to point out something that is very important. We are talking about convenience here and nothing else. Straws are just that. We can live without them and they are not essential in any way.
When we talk about single use plastic, we always talk about convenience. So I hope that I can help people who value this convenience understand that it is up to them to decide how important this convenience is for them.
Also, on the other hand, people who are supportive of the zero-waste movement and criticize others for even wining about straws, need to understand that convenience is important for many. We live hectic lives and every little inconvenience can add to our daily stress. These two communities need to meet each other half-way and show more understanding of each other's point of views.
Hope this post helped you make a decision about what type of straw person you are or maybe if you're not a straw person at all.
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