Time to stop using plastic straws: Smarter alternatives

Over 50 million plastic straws are used each year. Most plastic straws end up in landfills and cannot be recycled.

Most plastic straws contains polypropylene and BPA, otherwise known as Bisphenol A, which can leach chemicals into your drinks. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, BPA is an increasingly common industrial chemical used in the industrial production of certain plastics and resins. Over the years, BPA has been known to increase the risk of certain health issues, such as reproductive disorders, diabetes and cancer.

Reusing plastic straws is not recommended. Washing them can leave behind bacteria and germs. Most of the time they are not recycled because of the chemicals in them; these end up in landfills polluting the earth and seas, upsetting our ecosystem.

These are some better alternatives:

• Glass Straws

• Bamboo Straws

• Stainless Steel Straws

   

Out of these, I prefer the last option. Here are 6 reasons why you should switch to stainless steel straws:

1. Environmentally Friendly

Haven’t we polluted the earth enough? According to Mother Earth Living, the manufacturing of plastic products releases a whole set of carcinogenic, home-disruptive and neurotoxic chemicals into the atmosphere. These products eventually find their way to our ecology through the air, water and land pollution.

Teach your kids the importance of switching to environmentally friendly products, such as bamboo, glass or stainless steel straws to protect the environment. This will encourage them to reduce the use of plastic made products and recycle.

2. Reusable

While bamboo might appear a good natural alternative, depending on where these are sourced, bamboo straws need to be cleaned and dried thoroughly before they are packed and sold. Otherwise, fungus and other nasties can remain on the inside of the straws unseen. Also, if kids decide to chew on the straws, there is a risk of splinters in the mouth.

Glass and stainless steel straws are reusable and can last for ages if you clean them properly. In addition, glass and stainless steel do not leach chemicals and do not interact with the beverage you are drinking.

3. Easy to Clean

I've used glass straws for awhile now and yes, I do admit they are pretty to look at and relatively easy to clean in the dishwasher. But I'm always a little hesitant to let my 4 year old help me bring his cup and straw to the sink. Not that he's ever dropped one. In fact, it was hubby who dropped one and crushed another when he "helped" take a pot to the sink and placed it on a straw that was in there.

Cleaning a stainless steel straw is easy. Most metal straws are dishwasher safe so all you have to do is rinse the straw and toss it inside the dishwasher and you are good to go. In addition, the stainless steel straws I've bought come with their own cleaning brush, to ensure that every inch of the straw remains hygienic. 

4. Safe to Use

Glass and stainless steel straws are BPA free. Plastic straws that contain BPA have been known to leech harmful chemicals into the bloodstream. We try to keep nasty chemicals out of our mouths.

Again, glass is just that bit more fragile and glass straws just look too candy-like for some to resist taking a bite into.......oooooh, I don't even want to imagine.

5. Enjoy Your Drink Longer

What’s worse than preparing a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day only for it to turn warm before you even enjoyed it? If you leave your stainless steel straws in the fridge or freezer before you use them, it will allow you to enjoy your drinks for longer periods of time so those glorious drinks don't turn warm and taste awful. 

6. Safer for Kids

In terms of safety, stainless steel straws are the best choice of drinking straw. Unlike reusable glass straws, metal straws are not easily breakable and can safely be used by children. If you have young children who like to throw things around the table during breakfast, invest in stainless steel straws and you won’t have to worry about breakage again.

It's time to ditch the plastic straws. Every plastic straw we don't use is another plastic straw that doesn't get stuck in a trout's gill or a turtle's nose. Switch to stainless steel straws today.

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