You might have gone to a restaurant, and were probably baffled to see paper straws in place of plastic straws at your table. Trying out new things is not everyone’s cup of tea, and it must have felt weird with the paper straw in your mouth instead of the usual plastic one. And so, you must be wondering, why are restaurants using paper straws now?
The reason is that plastic straws are non-biodegradable, while paper straws are easily broken down and do not accumulate on land and sea. Why did restaurants feel the need to shift their centuries-long tradition is a question that still needs answering.
Why the switch to paper straws?
Humans are becoming more aware of their environment and the degrading effects their activities have had on mother Earth. As a result, a few years back, many consumer groups started to realize the negative effects using plastic items was having on the land and started to condemn the use of plastic.
Since plastic is non-biodegradable, plastic products were accumulating everywhere and spilling out in the sea too, where they posed a threat to the sea creatures, who could get trapped in the products.
As a result, many consumers protested against the use of plastic by different companies. On the outroar, countries around the world like Taiwan, Jamaica, etc., banned the use of disposable plastic products. A similar action was taken by different US states, including New York, Floria, and Arizona.
Therefore, restaurants thought it best to switch from using plastic straws to paper straws to support the initiative.
Watch this video to find out more:
Why paper straws out of all options?
Well, now you might be wondering why they switched to paper straws out of all options? Paper is, generally, easier to decompose compared to other materials. It is known not to pollute the land by accumulating on it. Therefore, it was preferred as a suitable alternative.
However, paper straws weren’t the only option to select from. These straws will also work fine, and maybe even better if used in place of plastic straws:
Glass straws:
Glass straws are a perfect choice if you want to go eco-friendly with your restaurant. They are recyclable and reusable, and fully support the three Rs of recycling.
Once used, they don’t have to be discarded, unlike paper and plastic straws; you can sanitize them and use them again. And there is no need to worry about breakage either, as you can get your straws made from shatter-resistant borosilicate.
Hay straws:
Hay straws were used centuries back when plastic straws hadn’t enveloped the world. What’s to say they can’t be used now, too? The best part? They come cheap; you can get 100 straws for just $7.
Noodle straws:
Cheap and biodegradable, noodle straws are an excellent replacement for plastic straws. Unlike paper straws, they don’t deplete natural resources and are easy to acquire and use.
So, when you go to restaurants now and use paper straws to drink your soda, remember: it is for the good of the environment!
