The use of straws Plastic causes serious problems for the environment. This information is nothing new. The reasons why they are not good for the environment start with the fact that they take hundreds of years to decompose, polluting oceans, rivers and soil.
Furthermore, marine animals and birds mistake straws for food, which causes future damage to their health. The production of plastic straws consumes natural resources and releases pollutants into the air.
Given this scenario, replacing plastic straws with more sustainable alternatives has become a race against time. Then came the idea of paper straws, which, according to the information released so far, would be less polluting.
However, the reality is that neither the plastic straw nor the straw paper present themselves as truly viable solutions to efficiently combat environmental damage.
Are paper straws worse than plastic ones?
Photo: Freepik/nikitabuida/Reproduction
What once seemed like a perfect solution, over time, became a terrible choice. Paper straws proved to be utensils that fell apart quickly, making it difficult to consume drinks.
As a result, there was a production of thicker and more robust straws. Once this happened, the recycling process became a little more complex and difficult.
Furthermore, the fact that paper straws easily fall apart in drinks raises a major warning regarding people’s health, as their material may contain additives that are harmful to health. health our body when ingested.
Photo: Freepik/Reproduction
Therefore, it is important to choose certified paper straws that are safe for contact with food. Furthermore, if these additives become toxic to humans, the same happens to marine animals.
From an environmental point of view, there is an increase in the consumption of natural resources (trees) for the production of paper when it does not come from recycled material, in addition to the emission of gases in the manufacturing process.
What is the best type of straw?
Therefore, it is correct to say that the best options continue to be stainless steel or glass straws.
They are easy to find in household goods stores and even on the internet, they are available in the most diverse values and formats and, as a rule, they come with a hygienic brush to make cleaning easier. Some of them already come in a transport packaging that allows you to store them in your bag or backpack and use them on a daily basis whenever necessary.
So, in addition to no longer needing to buy straws every time you want to enjoy a drink cold, you will also be helping the environment.
