Today is National Drinking Straw Day! To start you off, here are some things you may not know about straws:
Quick facts (the good and the bad):
- Did you know that one of the first known uses of straws was by ancient Sumerians, who used straws made of gold to drink their beer. Yes, you read that right, GOLD.
- Straws often protect you from exposure to bacteria from restaurant glassware and cans.
- Using a straw can decrease potential staining on the front of your teeth.
- A study conducted by the California Coastal Commission found that plastic straws and stirrers made up 4% of the litter collected during beach cleanups in the state. Yikes!
- Plastic straws are among the top 10 sources of plastic marine debris worldwide.
- During a five-year cleanup research project in the United States, nearly 7.5 million plastic straws were found on shorelines. Yup, 7.5 million and when this number is extrapolated globally, it is estimated that there are between 437 million and 8.3 billion plastic straws on the world’s coastlines!
- At present, plastic straws account for approximately 99% of the $3 billion global market for drinking straws.
- Due to their small size, most recycling machines are not equipped to recycle straws.
Plastic pollution has become a major environmental concern in recent years, and here at Evanesce we also recognize that single-use plastics, like straws, have become major contributors to the problem. In fact, over 500 million plastic straws are used and thrown out every day in the United States alone. To reduce plastic pollution, government regulations and businesses have started to switch to compostable straws as an alternative to traditional plastic straws. Compostable straws are made from materials (plant-based) that can break down into natural substances when they are composted. In contrast, traditional plastic straws are made from petroleum-based plastics that do not break down naturally and can take hundreds of years to decompose in the environment. It is imperative to understand the difference between compostable, recyclable, and biodegradable. To learn more, please refer to this blog post.
These facts are troubling and research shows that microplastics have been found in our drinking water, food supply, and even in our bodies. If we do not make necessary changes, a study finds that by the year 2050, it is predicted that every seabird species on the planet will have ingested plastic. However, by going with compostable straws, it can help reduce plastic pollution in the environment. According to BPI, by using compostable items instead of plastic, businesses and organizations can help to reduce their environmental impact and support the development of more sustainable systems for managing waste.
Enjoy #DrinkingStrawDay with your favorite drink and our fully compostable Evanesce straws.