Why are Plastic Straws Bad and What are the Alernatives?

Plastic straws are environmentally harmful because they're non-biodegradable, fragment into dangerous microplastics, harm marine life, and contain potentially hazardous chemicals that can leach into beverages and the environment.

With Americans alone using between 172 and 500 million plastic straws daily and 8.3 billion straws contaminating beaches worldwide, these small items create a disproportionate environmental impact. They take hundreds of years to decompose, directly harm approximately 800 marine species, and expose humans to harmful compounds like BPA and PFAS that can disrupt hormones and increase health risks.

Understanding the environmental cost of plastic straws and exploring practical alternatives can help you make more sustainable choices while contributing to the global effort against plastic pollution.

This guide examines the composition and impact of plastic straws, evaluates various alternatives, including metal, bamboo, paper, and compostable options, and provides practical steps to reduce your plastic straw usage.

What are Plastic Straws Made Of?

Plastic straws are primarily made from polypropylene, a common type of plastic made from crude oil and marked with resin identity code number five. Manufacturers favor polypropylene for straw production because it's inexpensive, durable, heat-resistant (up to 110-120°C), and considered food-safe.

To make plastic straws, manufacturers heat polypropylene pellets until they melt, then extrude them into long tubes and cut them to size. Each plastic straw weighs only about 0.4 grams, which is why they are popular as an inexpensive product, but also problematic when it comes to disposal and recycling.

What is the Environmental Impact of Plastic Straws?

Plastic straws create significant environmental problems due to their widespread use (which adds to plastic waste), issues with end-of-life disposal, and carbon emissions.

This infographic highlights the key data.

The following statistics illustrate the issues in more detail.

• Many sources report that Americans use an estimated 500 million plastic straws daily, enough to fill more than 127 school buses per day, or over 46,400 per year (Earth.org). However, this statistic has been challenged, and others put the number closer to 172 million plastic straws per day (Reason Foundation).
• Globally, 8.3 billion plastic straws contaminate the world's beaches ("Life cycle assessment of environmental impact of disposable drinking straws," Gao, 2022).
• Plastic straws make up only about 0.025% of the estimated 8 million tons of plastic entering the oceans annually, but their small size makes them particularly problematic (National Geographic).

Plastic straws present several environmental challenges, including the following.

• Non-biodegradability: Plastic straws take up to 200 years to decompose (World Wildlife Fund). Instead of breaking down naturally, they persist in the environment for centuries.
• Fragmentation into microplastics: Rather than biodegrading, plastic straws break into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics, which are virtually impossible to remove from the environment and can enter food chains (BBC News).
• Resource intensity: Producing plastic straws requires petroleum, contributing to fossil fuel consumption and associated carbon emissions. A lifecycle analysis suggests that a single straw produces 1.5-5.8g of carbon dioxide equivalent, and all plastic straws used in the US would equal the emissions from 75,000 gas cars driven for one year ("Hospitals Should Offer Straws Only on Demand," Agrawal, 2024).

How are Plastic Straws Harmful to Marine Life?

Plastic straws harm marine life through stomach issues caused by ingestion, cuts and suffocation from entanglement, and toxic chemical leaching.

The marine debris caused by plastic straws affects different species (such as sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals) in the following ways.

• Physical harm through ingestion: Marine animals often mistake plastic straws for food. Ingested straws can cause internal injuries, digestive blockages, and even death. Sea turtles are especially vulnerable, as shown in the viral "turtle with straw video" that helped ignite global outrage over plastic waste.
• Entanglement: Although less common than with other ocean plastic debris like fishing nets, straws can entangle smaller marine creatures.
• Widespread impact: Researchers have found plastic in an estimated 90% of all seabirds and in all sea turtle species (World Wildlife Fund).
• Marine ecosystem damage: Plastic pollution affects around 800 marine species and kills at least 100,000 marine mammals yearly (World Wildlife Fund).
• Toxic leaching: As plastic straws (and other plastic products) break down in the ocean, they release harmful chemicals that pollute the water, damaging marine life and human health.

How are Plastic Straws Harmful to Humans?

Plastic straws harm humans through chemical exposure (including BPA and PFAS), microplastic consumption, and increased potential health risks.

The infographic below shows the main ways in which straws affect human health.

The human health impacts of plastic straws are outlined in more detail below.

• Chemical exposure: Most plastic straws contain chemical compounds such as BPA (Bisphenol A) or PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These chemicals can leach into beverages, especially hot drinks, and enter your body (Newsweek).
• Microplastic consumption: As plastic straws break down into microplastics, they enter our water systems and food chain. You then unknowingly consume these microplastics through drinking water and eating seafood.
• Health risks: Studies have linked plastic exposure to higher risks of serious health problems, including cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and hormone disruption.
• Air quality issues: Incinerating plastic waste, including straws, releases toxic chemicals into the air and contributes to air pollution and the associated respiratory problems (such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema).
• Physical risks: Children can suffer accidental injuries (such as eye damage) from the improper use of rigid plastic straws.

If plastic straws are so harmful to the planet, humans, and animals, you might be wondering why they aren't recycled.

Why Can't Plastic Straws be Recycled?

Plastic straws can be recycled, but in reality they rarely are because the recycling process is complicated, and there is no profit to be made.

So, despite being made from technically recyclable polypropylene (plastic #5), plastic straws rarely get recycled for several reasons, including the following.

• Size and weight limitations: Plastic straws are too small, thin, and lightweight for proper sorting in standard recycling facilities. They often fall through sorting screens, contaminate other recyclables, or end up in landfills (Homewood Disposal Service).
• Mechanical limitations: Their cylindrical shape and flexibility jam recycling machinery and create operational problems at recycling facilities.
• Contamination issues: Used straws typically contain residual food or drink, which can contaminate other recyclables and reduce the quality of recycled materials.
• Economic factors: Collecting, sorting, and processing such small items costs far more than their material value and makes recycling economically impractical.
• Alternative disposal paths: Due to their lightweight nature, straws often escape traditional waste management systems through littering or being blown from trash receptacles (Recycle Ann Arbor).

Due to the complexity around recycling plastic straws, many people think they should be banned.

Should Single-Use Plastic Straws be Banned?

Banning single-use plastic straws may be appropriate in many contexts to reduce environmental harm, though exceptions should be considered for people with disabilities, and such bans should be part of broader plastic reduction strategies rather than standalone solutions.

Banning single-use plastic straws has sparked considerable debate, with arguments for and against the practice. As Ted Danson, Vice Chair, Oceana Board of Directors put it, "It is no surprise that plastic bags, straws, stirrers, lids and take-out containers are ending up in our oceans when they're so readily available at retailers and restaurants."

Arguments for banning plastic straws:

• Bans can significantly reduce plastic waste and associated environmental impacts.
• Alternatives exist that can meet the needs of most consumers.
• Bans raise awareness about broader plastic pollution issues and can lead to behavioral changes.
• The reduction in marine pollution could help protect endangered species.

Arguments against banning plastic straws:

• Plastic straws represent only a small fraction (less than 1%) of overall plastic pollution (Stanford University).
• Bans can create hardships for people with certain disabilities who rely on bendable plastic straws.
• Some alternatives have their own environmental impacts, including higher carbon footprints in production.
• Focus on straws may distract from larger-scale plastic pollution issues.

Which Places have Banned Plastic Straws Already?

Numerous countries and cities have already banned plastic straws, including the European Union, China, England, Seychelles, Vanuatu, and several US states such as California, Washington, and New York, while major companies like Starbucks and McDonald's have voluntarily eliminated or reduced their use.

Further details about who has implemented restrictions or outright bans on plastic straws are listed below.

Countries with full or partial plastic straw bans:

• Seychelles and Vanuatu have implemented complete bans on plastic straws.
• The European Union implemented a ban on single-use plastic items, including straws, in July 2021.
• China has banned single-use plastic straws nationwide since 2021 (Solar Impulse Foundation Alliance).
• England banned the supply of plastic straws, with exceptions for medical use and disabilities.
• Jamaica, Belize, and Taiwan have also implemented significant restrictions on single-use items, including plastic straws.

US States and cities with plastic straw restrictions:

• Several US states have banned plastic straws, including California, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
• Seattle became the first major US city to ban plastic straws in 2018.
• Mexico City banned a range of single-use plastic items, including straws.

Corporate actions:

• Many major companies have voluntarily eliminated or reduced plastic straw use, including Starbucks, McDonald's, Hyatt Hotels, and American Airlines.

With the number of countries and companies banning plastic straws increasing each year, the race is on to find sustainable alternatives that do the job just as well.

What are the Alternatives to Plastic Straws?

The main alternatives to plastic straws include metal, bamboo, paper, glass, and compostable straws, or simply using no straw at all.

Each alternative has advantages and disadvantages as described in the following sections.

Metal Straws

Metal straws are durable, reusable alternatives that can last for years and generate no waste after initial production, but they require 37-63 uses to offset their environmental impact compared to plastic straws.

Advantages:

• Durable and reusable for years.
• Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean with the proper tools.
• No waste is generated after initial production.

Disadvantages:

• Safety concerns with rigid material, especially for children or people with disabilities.
• High initial carbon footprint (requires 37-63 uses to offset environmental impact compared to plastic straws) (BBC News).
• Requires carrying with you for on-the-go use.
• Can affect drink taste for some users.

Bamboo Straws

Bamboo straws are made from natural, renewable materials that biodegrade at end of life, but they produce 27 times more carbon dioxide during production than plastic straws and may contain PFAS chemicals.

Advantages:

• Made from natural, renewable materials.
• Biodegradable at end of life.
• Distinctive natural aesthetic.
• Reasonably durable with proper care.

Disadvantages:

• Can develop mold if not thoroughly dried.
• Limited lifespan compared to metal or glass.
• May affect drink taste over time.
• Produces 27 times as much carbon dioxide during production as plastic straws (BBC)
• PFAS (forever chemicals) were found in 80% of bamboo straws tested in one European study (newsatlas.com).

Paper Straws

Paper straws fully biodegrade under proper conditions and are made from renewable resources, but they quickly become soggy in drinks and cannot typically be recycled after use.

Advantages:

• Biodegradable (decomposes in 2-6 weeks under proper conditions).
• Made from renewable resources.
• Widely available as a single-use alternative.

Disadvantages:

• Short usable life before becoming soggy in drinks
• Consumer dissatisfaction with performance.
• Cannot typically be recycled after use due to food contamination.
• A European study found that 90% of paper straws contained PFAS (newsatlas.com).
• Production uses up to 10% more energy and 4 times as much water as plastic straw production (Inkwell).

Glass Straws

Glass straws are durable, dishwasher-safe, and don't transfer taste to drinks, but they have the highest carbon footprint among alternatives and can break easily.

Advantages:

• Durable and reusable.
• No taste transfer to drinks.
• Visually appealing and available in various designs.
• Dishwasher-safe.

Disadvantages:

• Breakage risk and potential safety hazard.
• Highest carbon footprint among alternatives (44 times the greenhouse gas emissions of plastic straws) (BBC).
• Requires 23-39 uses to offset environmental impact versus plastic straws (BBC).
• Relatively expensive.

Compostable Straws

Compostable straws are made from plant-based materials like PLA or PHA that look and feel similar to plastic straws but break down more quickly.

Advantages:

• Made from plant-based materials like PLA (polylactic acid, usually from corn starch) or PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates).
• Look and feel similar to plastic straws.
• Break down more quickly than plastic (PHA straws can show up to 50% degradation in 16 weeks) (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution).

Disadvantages:

• Only compostable in industrial facilities, not home composting or marine environments.
• May not break down efficiently if sent to a landfill.
• Can be more expensive than plastic straws.
• Still a single-use item contributing to consumption patterns.

No Straw At All

Using no straw at all is the zero-waste, cost-free solution with no production impacts or disposal issues.

Advantages:

• Zero waste solution.
• No production impacts or resources used.
• No disposal issues.
• Cost-free.

Disadvantages:

• Not suitable for people with specific disabilities or medical conditions (such as amputees or those with tremors or balance issues).
• Less convenient for drinking certain beverages.
• May not be practical for all drinking situations.

The straw-free movement is a positive step towards sustainability, but many people still need help to ditch plastic straws for good.

What Can I do to Ditch Plastic Straws?

You can reduce plastic straw pollution by refusing single-use straws, carrying reusable alternatives, advocating for change at local businesses, supporting plastic-reduction legislation, and raising awareness about environmental impacts.

These individual actions can make a meaningful difference in reducing plastic straw pollution, and the advice listed below will help you get started.

1. Refuse single-use straws: When ordering beverages, specifically request "no straw" or "no plastic straw".
2. Carry your reusable alternative: Keep a reusable straw (such as metal, glass, or bamboo) in your bag, car, or at your desk for use when needed.
3. Advocate for change: Ask local restaurants and businesses to adopt straws-on-request policies or switch to more sustainable alternatives.
4. Support legislation: Back policies that reduce single-use plastics in your community.
5. Raise awareness: Share information about the impacts of plastic straws with friends, family, and social networks.
6. Choose better alternatives: If you need straws, select the most environmentally friendly option for your specific needs and use case.
7. Dispose properly: If you do use plastic straws, make sure you dispose of them responsibly (for example, composting biodegradable straws) to prevent them from becoming litter in the park or on the street.
8. Support businesses making changes: Only spend your money at establishments committed to reducing plastic waste.

By understanding the true impact of plastic straws and taking action to reduce their use, you can contribute to addressing the broader issue of plastic pollution while encouraging systemic changes in how we approach all single-use items.