The Statistics Behind Plastic Straws

The last time you ordered a drink at a restaurant, did it come with a plastic straw? According to the Trash Free Seas Alliance, the average American uses 1.6 straws a day. In the US alone, that’s enough to circle the equator two and a half times.

Americans use 500 million plastic straws each day, which means that you’ll likely use over 35,000 of them in your lifetime.

And, this number is even more shocking in Europe, where consumers use an estimated 25.3 billion each year. Of course, the situation continues to get worse after we discard these straws.

The statistics call for greater public awareness of the use of plastic and its adverse impacts. If consumption at today’s rates continues, we may find more straws (by weight) in the oceans than fish in less than thirty years.

Platic vesus Bamboo Straw Environmental Impact

Carelessly discarded single-use straws increasingly wind up in our oceans, where they can often harm aquatic life. The world particularly shuddered at a video where a marine biologist, Christine Figgener, is seen removing a plastic straw from a sea turtle's nose. See video here. Overnight searches for “plastic straws turtles” ballooned as the world familiarized itself with the devastating environmental impact plastic straws alone can have. According to National Geographic, approximately 8 million tons of plastic straws end up in our oceans every year.

Once in the worlds oceans, plastic straws along with other plastics continue to have damaging effects.The straws may seem trivial and harmless by size, but when billions of straws litter the world every year, their impact increases exponentially. According to estimates, 100,000 marine mammals die every year because of plastic waste both around and in oceans. Ingestion of plastics has increasingly become a major cause of the death of aquatic birds and mammals. Furthermore, large floating masses of plastic can also shield algae and other oceanic plants from getting ample sunlight. In this way, the entire food chain of marine life gets disrupted. Read more about the Great Pacific Garbage patch here.

6 REASONS WHY BAMBOO STRAWS ARE THE SOLUTION TO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS

Making the switch from a plastic to a eco friendly  bamboo drinking straw is super simple and full of benefits. It’s one of the easiest steps you can take towards helping solve the plastic waste problem on our planet. 

1. Bamboo Straws are Reusable and Durable

One of the top benefits of using bamboo drinking straws is that you can reuse them over and over. A high-quality set of bamboo straws Family Pack  can last for years when properly cleaned and cared for. 

2. Bamboo Straws are Healthy and Chemical-Free

Plastic straws are made from a petroleum-derived chemical, polypropylene. The FDA determines this material is safe for food contact, but research evidence has shown that it can leach chemicals into liquids.

With hot beverages, the plastic can become heated and these chemicals can leak out of your straw and contaminate your drink. Even small amounts of highly acidic beverages and UV light can break down these harmful compounds and infuse them into your drink. 

BPA (bisphenol A) can also be found in some hard plastics and based on animal studies, the FDA has placed concern about the potential health effects of BPA.

The goods news is that the bamboo plant has naturally antimicrobial properties meaning they are less likely to harbor bacteria over time and be more resistant to spoiling or rotting over time. Bamboo is also grown chemical-free, not requiring the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

3. Bamboo Straws are Portable On-The-Go

Super-lightweight (less than 1oz), bamboo drinking straws don’t take up much space. You can simply toss your straw in your bag and take it with you on-the-go. Luala Silk has a bamboo straw set that come with small and convenient carrying cotton pouch that fits easily inside the bag or purse or tucks away in the kitchen drawer.

It is also convenient if you choose the  bamboo straw travel pack which you will easily opt to use bamboo drinking straw with your travel coffee cup instead of the single-use plastic straws that are available.

4. Bamboo Straws are stylish and look awesome 

You can’t deny that Bamboo Straws are incredibly photogenic. They add a natural touch to every drink, and are guaranteed to increase the Instagram worthiness of your smoothies - trust us, we’ve done our research. Besides, what’s sexier than someone who cares about the environment?

Bamboo is eye-catching and stylish. A quick photo of a bamboo drinking straw in any beverage will be Instagram worthy. Kids love the novelty of a fun looking straw and will be encouraged to finish their healthy juice or smoothie. It also serves as a great opportunity to educate your children or guests about the dangers of plastic waste due to single-use plastic drinking straws.

Bamboo Straws are perfect accent when you have parties or guests over. You can impress your guest with these little accessories to your refreshing summer drink or warm winter treat. Luala Bamboo Straws come in 3 different sizes to fit different kinds of drink such as tea, coffee, boba tea...

5.Bamboo straws are antibacterial and easy to clean 

Bamboo Straws are not only safer for the environment - they’re safer for you. In addition to being chemical-free, bamboo is also less likely than single-use plastic to harbour harmful bacteria. Oh, and they’re super easy to clean! Luala Eco Bamboo Straw Set always include coconut brittle brush which helps the straw cleaning easier 

6. Bamboo Straws are biodegradable and made from natural plants

Bamboo Straws are made using 100% natural materials. These drinking straws are made out of fast-growing bamboo, one of the most sustainable plants in the world. Bamboo requires no fertilizers or pesticides and regenerates from its own roots so it doesn’t need to be replanted, making our bamboo straws even more eco-friendly! They’re a great reminder that nature is the best resource for all of our food and product needs.

6. Bamboo Straws create job 

We are proud to partner with a talented team of artisans, who craft our bamboo straws as well as other coconut bowls and bamboo trays.

We are committed to providing ethical working conditions to our workers, and pay them well above the Fair Trade standard. The growing popularity of Bamboo Straws continues to create more jobs for these artisans, making them a symbol of both environmental and economic sustainability!

How much do plastic straws affect the environment?

Straws are unrecyclable and either sit in landfills for centuries or pollute our environments and harm wildlife.

Single-use plastic items such as straws—as well as stirrers, bags, and cups—are convenient, but convenience can come at an environmental cost if they aren’t disposed of properly or recycled. Many marine animals mistake these and other plastic items for food. Plastic has been found in an estimated 90% of all seabirds and in all sea turtle species. Within the next decade there could be a pound of plastic for every three pounds of fish in the ocean.