Stroodles (eco straws made from pasta!)
Stroodles Pasta Straws last around an hour (not for hot drinks, as they would go soggy. Made in Italy, they can be composted after use, or just cook and eat them! Not for gluten allergies (or children/swallowing difficulties). May contain traces of soya or eggs.
Also Makes Edible Cups!
Stroodles also makes edible cups (in two sizes that taste like Ryvita!) that can hold hot liquids for up to 40 minutes and a range of tableware. They last over an hour in cold drinks, at normal temperatures.
It’s important to store all items in a cool dry place, as they would otherwise biodegrade away in the sun (and the plates and cups would go stale quickly).
Apart from people who need them for medical use, the sale of plastic drinking straws are now banned in the UK. But millions are still lying around and get used (leftover ones already bought wholesale in bars and hotels etc). And abroad they are not banned (President Trump recently reversed the ban, saying ‘paper straws’ explode’).
Some shops are sneakily selling packs of ‘reusable plastic straws’ in plastic packs, (The Range is one) that is not really much better for the planet.
A few years back, McDonald’s replaced plastic straws (but not plastic lids, which rather defeats the point) on their McFlurry’s. Which led to a UK petition of over 50,000 people demanding they be returned, as the paper ones ‘went soggy’. Then it was found that the new paper straws could not be recycled, so they had to go back and redesign them. We have a long way to go.
Why do people use drinking straws?
As mentioned above, many people with medical needs have to use them in order to drink, so obviously this is something to look into (silicone is likely the best choice, but they must be safe to use).
For the rest of us, in reality there is no reason. Use your lips? But many people do use straws, so let’s look at the best alternatives on the market. With care, they should last a long time, which also saves money.
If you are giving out disposable paper straws, go for paper or straw. Some shops are sneakily selling packs of ‘reusable plastic straws’ in plastic packs, (The Range is one) that is not really much better for the planet.
Avoid steel straws for children, dexterity issues or when on the move. Avoid giving straws to babies, as open cups enable them to develop facial muscles for speech and eating.
How to clean and store reusable straws
Rinse the straw after use, then use a small brush (often included) to clean with warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry before storing, to avoid odours.
The sea turtle who helped ban plastic straws
Straw waste accounts for 10% of all ocean plastic (their shape and size miss sewage filters – one clean-up on US shorelines found 7.5 million plastic straws). Then marine creatures are injured by sharp edges.
My Life with Sea Turtles is the autobiography of the marine biologist who was behind the famed viral video, when she and others removed a foreign object from a turtle (they initially thought it was a tube worm).
It’s quite shocking to watch, but the turtle was okay and released back to the sea. Hopefully never to come across a straw again, which it turned out what the object was).
The video was viewed millions of times, and led to the plastic straw ban in many countries, including the UK. Perhaps someone should show President Trump, though doubt he would care.
We are not going to fix the world, by phasing out plastic straws. We never aimed so small. It was like a stone that fell into the water, and created little ripples that became waves. This really horrible thing inspired many people, and sparked something good. Christine Figgener
How to recycle remaining plastic straws
Get remaining straws (and plastic cups) out of your town forever with a recycling box from Terracycle. Communities, offices or schools can collectively pool small donations to buy a box. Then once it’s been filled, send off using the prepaid label to make into other industrial goods (like insulation). And get plastic straws out of your town forever.
