The best brands of zero waste reusable drinking straws
Unless you have a medical condition that requires one, you don’t need drinking straws (you could use your lips?) But as billions are used worldwide, it makes sense to look at reusable alternatives.
Don’t give straws to babies (as for pets, they are choking hazards). Open cups let babies develop facial muscles for speech/eating.
Silicone Drinking Straws (from The Netherlands)
This set of multi-coloured silicone straws (The Netherlands) includes a cup guide to help you cut to size for whisky glasses, short tumblers, cocktail glasses or children’s drinks.
Dishwasher-safe and sold with a cotton bag. These straws look and feel like plastic, are foods-safe, last years and are easy to recycle.
Silicone straws are made from a synthetic polymer. They are heat-resistsant and popular with children and older people.
How to clean reusable straws
Rinse straws after use, then use a small brush (usually included with reusable straws) to clean with warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry before storing, to avoid odours.
Unless you have a medical condition that requires one, you don’t need drinking straws (you could use your lips?) But as billions are used worldwide, it makes sense to look at reusable alternatives.
Why avoid plastic drinking straws?
Many countries (since that viral video of the turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nostril) have now banned single-use plastic straws. But many countries (including the USA) haven’t, and millions of old plastic straws are still used, if bought years ago.
Which countries have banned plastic straws?
Not many, the majority of countries worldwide still allow them. In the US, there is no federal ban, but some states (like Florida and California) have brought in bans. President Trump has not only reversed a ban on plastic straws, but ordered all federal departments to not use paper ones, presumably to support the oil industry (plastic is made from oil).
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 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.
Jungle Culture Bamboo Drinking Straws
Jungle Culture bamboo straws are sold in a set of 6, in a hessian carry case. Handmade by a small artisan family farm in rural Vietnam, these straws are strong and durable, and dishwasher-safe.
The set includes a cleaning guide and eco craft box. Suitable for juice, soda and cocktails, with extra-wide straws for smoothies and mylkshakes.
Bamboo straws are good for smoothies and cocktails. Industrial bamboo grows very fast, and is not the same as fresh bamboo, eaten by pandas. Don’t leave these straws in water, they will biodegrade away!
Unless you have a medical condition that requires one, you don’t need drinking straws (you could use your lips?) But as billions are used worldwide, it makes sense to look at reusable alternatives.
Simply Straws (borosolicate glass straws)
Simply Straws offers sets of quality glass straws with rounded tips and 1.5mm thick walls, produced with German-engineered glass for a strong product that is easy to recycle, at end of use. Sold in sustainable packaging (with an inlay to secure the straws and cover sleeve).
Use coupon code ENGLANDNATURALLfor 10% discount
Borosilicate straws are shatter-resistant (the same as Pyrex dishes) and easy to sterilise. They can break, so try not to drop them on the floor!
Unless you have a medical condition that requires one, you don’t need drinking straws (you could use your lips?) But as billions are used worldwide, it makes sense to look at reusable alternatives.
Final Straw (a collapsible stainless steel straw)
Final Straw was a crowd-funded invention that got an investor on the US version of Dragon’s Den. Three other investors refused to invest, and are likely regretting it now! The brand has gone global, will millions sold (it’s already prevented 2 billion plastic straws from being littered).
Sold in several colours, this is a collapsible straw made from stainless steel that fits in your pocket, purse or keychain. The Biggie Straw is wider to handle smoothies, vegan milkshakes and bubble tea.
Avoid for children, dexterity issues or on the move, due to metal that doesn’t bend.
Co-founder Emma got the idea, when working at a beachside research centre, and kept seeing littered plastic straws harming sea creatures.
Unless you have a medical condition that requires one, you don’t need drinking straws (you could use your lips?) But as billions are used worldwide, it makes sense to look at reusable alternatives.
Don’t give straws to babies (as for pets, they are choking hazards). Open cups let babies develop facial muscles for speech/eating.
Hay Straws! (made from reed stems, don’t go soggy)
Hay Straws (US) are made from reed stems (sold unwrapped or wrapped in zero waste packs) in slim, original or wide versions, and wholesale cases from 1500 to 12,000. Unlike paper straws, these don’t go soggy!
Hay does not contain gluten but they say to avoid for allergies to hay or grass. And you are not a horse, so don’t eat them!
And even better, this brand uses profits to adopt a turtle each month at Sea Turtle Conservancy, to keep these beautiful creatures in the wild!
Unless you have a medical condition that requires one, you don’t need drinking straws (you could use your lips?) But as billions are used worldwide, it makes sense to look at reusable alternatives.
