On an average day, the US consumes about 500 million plastic straws. That’s 182 billion pieces of plastic trash entering our oceans every year. And, since we’re pretty much aware of the impact they come with, we lose at least one turtle every 9 hours to ocean plastic pollution. The point is, plastic straws might seem small, but they are catastrophic. And, looking for alternatives like a compostable straw is extremely vital for us and the planet.
Below is how plastic straws affect our planet, our health, and why they need to be replaced now.
Single-Use Plastic Straws: The Impact
Yes, plastic straws are bad for the planet. But here’s exactly what’s bad with them.
To start with, a disposable straw, made from plastic, is made from non-renewable resources like petroleum. Moreover, with an average use span of just 20 minutes, these plastic straws are often disposed of in a trash bin. After disposal, these pieces of plastic trash are sent to landfills or the oceans. The main problem with single-use plastic straws is that they take a long time to break down (about 500 years, to be exact). Till then, these plastic straws float around, choking marine life, leading to death. On average, we lose over a million marine lives every year to ocean plastic pollution.
Moreover, when it’s time for them to biodegrade, these plastic disposable straws further degrade into microplastics and release toxins. The microplastics are ingested by fish and marine life, and always enter our food chain. Another fact- an average human consumes a credit card's worth of microplastics every week.
Compostable Straw: A Better, Greener Switch
Let’s all be honest here. While plastic straws are bad for the planet, paper straws are super inconvenient. They dissolve in your drink, change the taste, and get too soggy. But we, at EcoSoul, believe that sustainability shouldn’t come with a compromise.
This is why a switch to our compostable straw can come with planet-safe sipping and zero inconvenience. Made from plants, not paper or plastic, our plant-based compostable straw range is made from just plant materials. To be precise, they are made from PLA corn starch.
Besides being made from just plants, our eco-friendly straw range is also certified compostable. TUV certified for being industrial compostable, our compostable straws for drinking are designed to break down into nutrient-rich compost within 180 days of responsible disposal. Unlike plastic straws, which stick around for centuries and break down into microplastics, these straws break down into compost, which can be used as manure.
Buy PLA Straw: Compostable Straw
Why Use Compostable Straw Over Plastic Straw?
Stating again, our compostable straw range is made from plants, not plastic. These straws are also non-toxic and absolutely safe for your kids sipping their favorite drinks. Also, unlike paper straws, these eco-friendly straws do not vanish in your drink. They do not get soggy or mushy and stay the same.
Lastly, the best part is that they are designed for a guilt-free and easy disposal. No guilt, no mess, simply drop them off in a disposal bin, and you are good to go.
Related Article: 5 Reasons To Choose Compostable Straws Over Plastic Straws