It seems that plastic straws and other single-use plastic products are on the comeback as President Trump signs an executive order to encourage the use of plastic straws by the federal government as well as the general public:
As part of the answer to the President's comments, plastic straws are more of a concern compared to most other single-use plastic products because not only are they smaller, which causes them to fall through the filters and into the trash at recycling centers, but also because they are much more commonly used than other single-use products, such as plates and cups. Much of the time, plastic straws do not even make it to the garbage can or recycling bin and instead are dropped on the ground. In fact, plastic straws are one of the most common items found during beach cleanups. And from the beach they can easily make their way into our world's oceans, where sharks might not only eat them "as they are munching their way through the ocean" (Trump 2025), but a myriad of smaller sea organisms and birds as well. We are reminded of the issues surrounding the use of plastic straws by the 9-year-old girl in the following video, who does a much better job at explaining the issue than I could.
If disposable straws are needed, the companies listed in the table below provide sustainable options made from different types of materials that are certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) or have been awarded the "DIN-Geprüft industrially compostable" test mark. FSC-certified ensures that the products are sourced from trees or other plants that were grown and harvested using responsible forestry practices.
Company | Material | Length | FSC-cert. | Home Compost | Fair Trade Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECO SOUL | Corn Starch | 8.25" | no | yes | no |
EcoPreps | Bamboo & Sugar Cane | 7.8" | yes | no | yes |
KTOB | Corn Starch | 8.25" | no | no | no |
Hint
When given the choice of using a straw with your drink, just say "No thanks" (unless you need to use a straw for health reasons). If disposable straws are required, consider one of the companies listed above.
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