Written by Maia Rice

When you think of plastic straws, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Starbucks, McDonald's?

Unfortunately, The first thing that comes to mind is how plastic straws are negatively affecting our planet. Straws are small and weigh very little, so they easily enter the oceans, polluting them and harming animals.

Many of us are unaware that even though straws are made of plastic, they cannot be recycled. They are not biodegradable and do not decompose naturally into non-toxic materials. What actually happens is that They break down into microplastics that cannot be reused. and end up polluting our waters and the environment.

Plastic, as you may already know, is made to last a long time, and Most of the plastics we use take around 500 years to decompose. Plastic attracts bacteria, chemicals, and other toxic substances. In addition, releases harmful chemicals that end up on land, in the air, and in water, posing a danger to animals, plants, people, and the environment in general. The Sea Turtle Conservancy estimates that “ 100 million marine animals die each year due to ocean debris.” and more than half of the world's sea turtles have ingested plastic." In August 2015, the video of a tortoise with a plastic straw stuck in his nose It went viral. The poor turtle was suffering, and thanks to some local scientists, they managed to remove the plastic straw with a pair of pliers. Since then, the movement to remove plastic straws from establishments has grown stronger.

In the United States alone, an estimated 500 million plastic straws are used every day. If you're wondering, "What can I do?" don't worry, there are solutions. There are recyclable plastic straw alternatives, or you can also invest in reusable straws. It's a similar concept to bringing reusable bags to the grocery store instead of single-use plastic bags.

You can always contribute to a healthier planet by choosing to buy reusable products. Just as you respect your health and well-being, we believe the planet should be cared for and respected in the same way.

The sustainability train has already departed, don't be left behind and get on board now! Many have already taken action, for example, some zoos have already banned the use of plastic straws and some beaches in the United States (in California, Florida and New Jersey, for example). Even multinationals agree to reduce plastic use. and have already begun strategies to reduce plastic straws in their establishments, for example, Starbucks, Disney, American Airlines, SeaWorld and Royal Caribbean.

Be eco-friendly It's not just fashionable, It is necessary to leave our children a clean planet where they can live. If each of us begins to realize how harmful single-use plastics are to the planet, we can all work together to reduce plastic waste. Invite and teach your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors about your commitment, and I'm sure many will follow you and learn how to care for the environment. Everyone will benefit!

In the following links, we invite you to visit brands that make alternative straws:

• Reusable colorful stainless steel metal straws Wild & Stone
• Original wheat straws from A Good Company
• Edible and flavored straws SIP

What are you waiting for?!