>

I think the same. Getting rid of straws are probably doing nothing, and if people really wanted to make a difference then we’d change much more. We’ve been destroying the planet for a long time- if people want that to change then they better reconsider their thought process behind the whole plastic straw thing.
Straws are a red herring. Little waste like that is barely a drop in the ocean of pollution. The true problem is fishing gear. It's cheaper to throw shit overboard when it gets caught or falls into disrepair, than to properly dispose of it.
Not to mention, plastic straws are the only ones that check every box for disability concerns. >

I mean, you’re not wrong. It’s these billionaires, and such doing way more environmental damage with their jets, yachts and or these overfishing (when they aren’t suppose to) which really is.
Plastic straws I guess are a tiny fix, to cover up the bigger problems, I guess making people think it’s making a big impact, but it’s barely. >

But it isn't a fix. It's the ghost of a fix, and it serves to blame people like me and you, rather than the industries that are raping the planet (and us) >

But industries exist to provide things to consumers, like me and you. Not creating pollution for the sheer joy of it. >

No they create pollution for money. Cause they don’t have to create a bunch of pollution to get their products to consumers, but they will since it is cheaper for them to create pollution than to use environmentally friendly methods. >

My point is that if people were willing to pay more for products that come from environmentally friendly methods, then that company would produce them with environmentally friendly methods. The consumer is also making a decision about money. >

So companies should always be exempt from any sense of preservation and eco-friendly regulations then? Meanwhile individuals who have very little control over the market are to be blamed for consuming the things that are the most accessible. Keep in mind a lot of people don't have a sustainable income, and even those who do don't have the power to flip over an entire market. >

They're not going to feel a sense of preservation because they are not people. Eco friendly regulation of industries not in your country are not possible. Not saying people should or shouldn't do anything, just saying how things are. I don't know why this is such a threatening concept, but the collective choices of individuals is what makes things the way the are. >


but the collective choices of individuals is what makes things the way the are.

No, that's litterly not true. The most powerful/influential people is what makes things the way they are. Are you really telling me, just as a very obvious and extreme example, a kid working in a sweatshop factory in China is due to their own fault? Or are you telling me it's the dude who buys the cheapest, blandest t-shirt at some basic store who's at fault? Or could it be because we live in a society where companies are allowed to be exploitative, and it's those who control those large companies and hold influence on those industries who's at fault? >

People in those positions would argue that their responsibility is to the stakeholders. Which in the case of Exxon is essentially hundreds of thousands of people through hedge funds,ETFs, pension funds. You might say they are to blame for not holding anyone accountable. Or the government, which is elected by people, who don't hold politicians accountable. Whatever though, were all just mindless consumption machines with no agency over our lives, heard loud and clear. >

Reusable straws >

Reusable metal straws bro. Keeps the stache dry. And doesnt make the drink taste like shit, unlike bamboo straws. Well on second thought  maybe bamboo straws would be good in tea. Bamboo straw are NOT good with coffee or juice. >

I have metal straws but heard of horror stories with toddlers so I plan to donate them and get reusable rubber straws instead. >

if they can choke on a metal straw they can choke on a wooden or plastic straw. >

It’s not the choking, it’s the impaling… and I said I was planning to switch to rubber straws instead. >

even easier to choke on :( >

Oh my baby’s have their own straw bottles. The straws are for me. But the metal ones I didn’t want around just in case they hurt themselves if they got a hold of it. >

What about those brown straws made of sugarcane? I see them in multiple  restaurants where I live. They're as firm as a plastic straw and are also biodegradable. >

I hope more companies start springing for these. They’re the closest you can get IMO. >

I don’t understand why they can’t make compostable straws, like the cutlery and cups they make with that material. >

Compostable does not equal biodegradable btw and are not THE solution. What you really want is biodegradable, cause recycling is very difficult so there's a high chance they'll still end up in nature >

Straws are a tiny mite’s fart of a fraction of a percentage of the problem.
Keep the straws, stop focusing on customer-end pollution and focus on industrial and systemic causes. >

Or get rid of both, because environmentalism shouldn't be on the condition that entirely doesn't directly effect the end user of a product.
We need to focus on the companies, but you could argue that the adoption of single use, non-biodegradable products is one of many systematic cause. Incentivizing companies to these products (e.g. the average plastic straw, single use grocery bags, plastic bottles) is part of  a systematic solution.
Consumer-end pollution isn't the main issue, but any solution we can offer will undoubtably change the way we as a society consume goods. >

This is the truly unpopular opinion tbh. I hear a lot of people blaming companies, who are definitely at fault. But these kinda changes are not useless. 
Single use plastics are a big problem and if we cant even accept straws being replaced, how do we ever expect companies to wanna divert their other single use plastic products to something more sustainable.
Changing straws, bags and whatever isnt gonna be the big solution, of course not. But us resisting against every inconvenience and pointing fingers sure as hell isnt gonna help either.
But hey, its definitely convenient to just keep going our way and blame everyone but ourselves. >

Sounds like a problem that would be handily solved by carrying around your own metal straw. >

Or glass straws. Love them. Places keep bringing paper straws with takeout and we just toss them, they're useless. >

straws made from...glass? ouchy. >

What's ouchy about them? What do you never drink from glasses? Are those ouchy too? What do you think wine glasses are made from. >

People often use straws while walking... Imagine tripping and having shattered glass impale you. So yeah... Ouchy >

Maybe people should stop doing that? I mean sure if you walk around with a glass of champagne that's also on you.
On the other hand people have glasses on their face all the time too. How many eyes get poked that way? >

Most modern glasses are made with plastic >

Use reusable plastic straws then I suppose. >

I have reused my sisters boba straws for months while regularly washing them. Nice thick plastic straw >

There are alternatives to the single use straws >

Maybe somebody can explain it to me coz I've always wondered, but if bottled water comes in 100% recyclable plastic, why can't they just make straws out of that plastic? Then it won't be a problem no? >

Plastic recycling is just a thing to make people feel like they're making a difference. Plastic is not easy to recycle, and recycling it requires a ton of energy. Most recycled plastic ends up in landfills or the environment. >

Damn. Appreciate you enlightening me. Thanks >

Honestly none of it matters. A company will, in a month, be more responsible for the pollution, litter, greenhouse games, and the planet going to hell than any of us will in a lifetime. I saw a super interesting video on this from one of the people I follow maybe a month ago. 
Basically she went on about how these major corporations have shed their responsibility onto consumers and goes on about how many of them have "gone green" and signed this act. I forgot the name. But its been 20 years almost and most of them haven't acted on anything in there. 
I can link it of anyone wants to watch >

I’m disabled and need to use a straw people don’t realize this whole just drink it out of the cup if you don’t like paper straws is making disabled people’s lives harder and yes there are reusable straws you can carry around with you but again as a disabled person that’s more shit I need to carry to make my life livable like everyone else >

Yea I had a friend with cerebral palsy who couldn’t drink without a straw and couldn’t stop herself from biting the straws and she would’ve either broken the paper straws too easily or broken a tooth on the metal straws :\ >

People are recommending the metal straws, I'd go for the latex ones. They fold up in your pocket, can't accidentally impale yourself on them. Perfect. >

Latex straws? 🤨🧐🤔
I don’t know, that sounds pretty sus to me 🤷‍♂️ >

latex is used in thousands of different products >

Yeah and only a few that anyone would typically put in their mouth… >

Any of the one's that are meant to be put in your mouth, sure... "what do you mean you would use a steel straw when you wouldn't suck on a car!?" This is just silly >

There will be a million and 1 fellatio related jokes if people start using latex straws though. That’s all I am saying lmao 😂 >

What do you mean if? People have been using them for decades... >

Never seen them used in my life. >

Shock of shocks, most places had plastic straws until the extremely recent past, there was no reason for people to bring their own. I've never seen someone drive a Tesla. So what? >

As a dental student, never stop using straws. It’s so much better for your teeth >

I just keep buying all the plastic straws I see so I’ll never have to live in a straw free world. >

🤣 That's a great idea for anything you love that's potentially going to be discontinued >

They give paper straws or just carry a metal one >

Paper straws fucking suck. Or rather they don't since they disintegrate within 10 minutes if you don't pull it out of your drink >

Try drinking faster >

Have you ever tried drinking a milkshake with a paper straw without pulling it out at all? Because it either gets soggy from sitting in there for too long or the other end completely falls apart from sucking on it too hard. Or both. >

I have never tried and don’t want to. >

There is very little environmental impact of plastic disposable staws. Concentrating on disposable straws is such a waste of time when you think of all the huge corporations that dispose of large amounts of waste. >

Are we still on the anti-straw kick? Seemed like everyone moved on to the next trendy way to save the planet. In which case you have nothing to worry about, your straws are safe. >

they're banned here in Canada as of Jan 1st I believe >

r/fuckcanada >

When I was in Mexico they did one use reusable straws made out of the pits of a Avocados . Way better than paper straws and a good use for the pits >

The environmental ramifications don’t exist. Industrial pollution is all that matters, and it ain’t BIG STRAW that’s causing the problems. Anybody who tries to convince u otherwise is either an oil company or an idiot. >

People really think the entire earth is going to collapse because we use plastic straws 😂😂 >

Never understood this.
Here's your plastic cup, with a plastic lid. Also here's a paper straw so we can save the environment. >

My ex: I bought metal straws to save the environment! throws cigarette butt on the ground >

It’s so weird how paper straws completely screw up the experience >

I hate having to ask the waitress at the restaurant for a straw! I too have sensitive teeth. >

I remember back in 2019 when CA's "ask" law came into effect some waitresses even gave an attitude when asked for a straw. I be surprised they still expect a tip. 
Apparently their supervisors had implenmented that they must be hidden deep in the kitchen even though that isn't required. Restaurants were all for it as it gives them an excuse to save money on new straws. >

Climate change is a hoax. >

There are a lot of reusable straw options. >

Carry a metal foldable straw? >

I hear ya. I have to lip wrap my front teeth to drink ice cold bevvies. >

Not to mention that plastic straws are the best for people with certain disabilities in order to drink. Our problem is not plastic straws. Even if it was it would be better to focus on the plastic cup and top that comes with the drink that don’t get recycled most of the time >

I feel you. Paper straws are the worst, especially with something heavy like a milkshake. There's gotta be a way to make paper straws that don't turn into mush, right? & metal straws freak me out, I worry that no matter how much I clean it there will always be some gunk stuck in there. >

Wooden/bamboo straws. >

These loons think they are saving the world with paper straws but didn’t thick twice about wearing their masks everywhere and contributing to the 1.6 billion masks that have entered the ocean. Sooooo stupid. >

All conversations about banning straws still recognize the need for them in particular settings. They will still be available, especially for disabled people >

You can also buy glass straws… or bamboo, steel, reusable plastic….or even your own disposable plastic straws.  So many choices for having a straw at places that don’t give them to you >

Bring your own straw! >

Do as I do. Carry around a pack of those edible waffle or cereal straws. They're like 1000% better anyway. >

There are safe alternatives that are not plastic, metal or glass. Have my upvote >


A lot of physically disabled people rely on straws to help them drink. Soft silicone are hard to clean (many straw-dependent people are more susceptible to infections), paper disintegrates too easily, and metal straws are an injury risk for people with impaired fine motor control. 

Also, bendy plastic straws are easier for these people to adjust and position as needed. It's not safer for everyone. >

I guess I should market some eco-friendly bendy straws.
With 8 billion humans, every little bit helps >

Carry your own reusable straw with you.
There are also available paper straws. >

bring your own reusable straw.. we have metal ones at home 👍 >

They DO make biodegradable straws from things like agave fibers or bamboo that CAN be composted, so it doesn't take a lifetime for it to start breaking down.
The Mesopotamians back in 3000 BC were even using straws.