Here’s Why You Should Ditch Straws

What if you could make one small change that could have a huge impact on our world? Straws are the fifth most common trash found on beaches, and a huge contributor to the amount of plastic waste in our oceans. It’s become more common to bring re-usable cups to coffee shops to avoid wasting a plastic cup, but straws are one of those things that you don’t really stop to think about. They’re something that just come with every drink you order, whether you’re getting take out or are going to a sit down restaurant.

It wasn’t until I watched the trailer for the documentary STRAWS that I realized what a large impact ditching plastic straws could have on our planet. Imagine how you’d feel if you knew that one of the straws you used ended up hurting our ocean’s wildlife – it definitely would not feel good!

Our dependence on plastic straws needs to change – and this change will only happen when more of us realize we don’t really need to use them in the first place.

Challenge: Avoid plastic straws

Starting this week, I’ve avoided using any plastic straws. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you need to give up straws altogether – if you enjoy using straws, try swapping your plastic ones for paper, stainless or glass (less harmful). I bought some glass straws and keep them handy in my kitchen, and even in my car. It’s been easy to not use plastic straws when I’m at home, but harder when I’m out since I have to make more of a conscious effort and actually ask for my drinks to not be served with them.

In the long run, it would be really awesome to get to a point where restaurants have a straws-upon-request policy (Mario Batali is already doing this with his restaurants). So for the health of our planet, next time you’re ordering your coffee or are out to dinner, ask for your drink to be served sans-straw.

Who’s going to say no to straws with me starting this week?

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9 comments

  1. I so appreciate this post. It’s a small change that could have such a big impact and not one that I would have immediately thought of. Thank you Geri. I have been an avid reader for a long, long time and I really appreciate your posts on wellness. I wanted to share my Dad’s blog here as it may be of interest to you or your readers. My Dad was recently diagnosed with cancer and his blog is a diary of his musings. It may be of comfort to cancer patients or their loved ones. https://how2livewithcancer.blogspot.ie/

  2. Love this! I use bamboo straws when I use them. Using straws on a regular basis will give you wrinkles, like a smoker. Best to avoid all around 🙂

  3. Hi Geri! Such simple and powerful post! I really appreciate it! It s hard to find blogs that don t post only about fashion and make up! I enjoy simple posts like this that make me aware of simple stuff that are not hard at all to do, but have a huge impact!

    I write to you from the other side of the earth, in Romania, but I assure you, that there is one less straw spender around here 🙂 Thanks so much!! Sending love to you and your beautiful baby and husband!!

  4. I barely ever use straws and now I have another reason why to avoid them! I’m a bit of a germaphobe- and since most straws are left out in the open for others to touch the tops of, I avoid altogether. I rather just drink from the cup that hasn’t been touched by everyone :P!

  5. YES! I’ve stopped using straws (I own a few reusable) but its honestly such an easy change! Thank you for writing about this – so many people have NO idea how difficult they are to break down.

  6. I’m not a coffee drinker, but you might want to drink your coffee with a straw to avoid STAINS and ruining your enamel. At some point, the only resolve here would be to encourage people who regularly consume things for which they require straws, to walk around with their own reusable straw.

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