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Left: Zach Gibson / Stringer / Getty Images, Right: shop.donaldjtrump.com / screenshot
Last week, EcoWatch reported that the campaign to re-elect President Donald Trump was selling packs of 10 plastic straws for $15. Commentators noted that the straws came with an unusually high price tag of $1.50 per pop, but apparently it was a price Trump supporters were willing to pay. The campaign has sold more than $456,000 worth since July 19, The Guardian reported.
<p>"Almost a half million dollars in straw sales! Wow." Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale tweeted Friday.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1154836753448153088" id="twitter-embed-1154836753448153088" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1154836753448153088&created_ts=1564169512.0&screen_name=parscale&text=Almost+a+half+million+dollars+in+straw+sales%21+Wow.+%0A%0AGet+your+recyclable+%40realDonaldTrump+straws+today.+%0A%0ACan%E2%80%99t+wai%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FrEdy0egw3E&id=1154836753448153088&name=Brad+Parscale" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="AL85F41576661667"></iframe>
</p><p>Parscale hit upon the idea for the straws when a paper straw fell apart on him shortly after he boarded a Jet Blue flight, <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/29/trump-campaign-culture-wars-drinking-straws-1438402?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=0000014e-f0fa-dd93-ad7f-f8ffe0400000&nlid=630318" target="_blank">Politico reported</a>. He tweeted his annoyance, but his wife encouraged him to take it further. The idea to sell Trump-brand plastic straws was born.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1151899687349301248" id="twitter-embed-1151899687349301248" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1151899687349301248&created_ts=1563469261.0&screen_name=parscale&text=I%E2%80%99m+so+over+paper+straws.+%23LiberalProgress+%0A%0AThis+is+exactly+what+they+would+do+to+the+economy+as+well.+Squeeze+it%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F0ZdovsAC1W&id=1151899687349301248&name=Brad+Parscale" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="EQW2XF1576661667"></iframe>
</p><p>Politico described what happened after Parscale emailed his staff with the plan:<br></p><blockquote>In short order, the campaign sent an email to supporters with the subject line, "Making straws great again." By the time Parscale landed in Florida, the presidential straws were already in production and an advertising campaign was up and running. The first batch was <a href="https://twitter.com/LizRNC/status/1152297624713793536" target="_blank">sold out</a> within hours.</blockquote><p>The straws are typical of the Trump campaign's marketing strategy, according to Politico. It makes bank on novelty items that take advantage of Trump's domination of the news cycle and the grievances of his supporters. Other offerings have included <a href="https://shop.donaldjtrump.com/products/stand-up-for-america-mens-football-jersey" target="_blank">"Stand Up for America" football jerseys</a>, inspired by Trump's criticism of football players who knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality, and <a href="https://shop.donaldjtrump.com/products/pencil-neck-adam-schiff-tee" target="_blank">"Pencil-Neck Adam Schiff" T-shirts</a>, mocking vocal Trump opponent Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif).</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1111739678267506689" id="twitter-embed-1111739678267506689" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1111739678267506689&created_ts=1553894369.0&screen_name=TeamTrump&text=Little+Pencil-Neck+Adam+Schiff%0A%0AHe+spent+two+years+knowingly+and+unlawfully+lying+and+leaking.+He+should+be+forced%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FYwmXYSHzK5&id=1111739678267506689&name=Team+Trump" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="3BKOIK1576661668"></iframe>
</p><p>"I think something Trump has always understood very clearly is how to tap into a cultural moment or zeitgeist and leverage it to his advantage," climate crisis activist and Democratic digital strategist Tara McGowan told Politico. "So for him, taking a relatively new thing in the world that most people hate (paper straws) and leveraging it to both make a political statement and raise [hundreds of thousands] of dollars by selling plastic straws is both brilliant and sinister."<br></p><p>Merchandise can be an effective means of drawing in small donors. Campaign staff told Politico that more than half of the people who purchased the straws had not given to the campaign before, and now can be hit up for future donations.</p>However, this fundraising ploy could have environmental consequences. The straws are recyclable, but if owners toss them anyway, they could join the approximately 7.5 million straws trashing U.S. beaches, according to a study reported by The Guardian. Americans use between 170 and 390 million straws a day, according to market research firms cited by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/business/plastic-straws-ban-fact-check-nyt.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>.
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP / Getty Images
The campaign to re-elect President Donald Trump has found a new way to troll liberals and sea turtles.
<p>The campaign website is selling packs of 10 <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-straws" target="_self">plastic straws</a> for $15, Trump re-election campaign manager Brad Parscale tweeted on Thursday, as <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/19/donald-trumps-2020-re-election-campaign-starts-selling-plastic-straws/1775841001/" target="_blank">USA Today reported</a>.</p><p>"Liberal paper straws don't work. STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP and buy your pack of recyclable straws today," the <a href="https://shop.donaldjtrump.com/products/trump-straws" target="_blank">straws' description reads</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1151978569763082240" id="twitter-embed-1151978569763082240" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1151978569763082240&created_ts=1563488068.0&screen_name=parscale&text=Making+Straws+Great+Again+%23Trump2020%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FkHXWaUnKt6&id=1151978569763082240&name=Brad+Parscale" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="HUP29B1576663882"></iframe>
</p><p>Parscale further promoted the straws in an email Friday titled "Make Straws Great Again," <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/07/19/743683131/trump-seizes-on-soggy-paper-straws-as-campaign-issue-make-straws-great-again" target="_blank">NPR reported</a>.<br></p><p>"I'm so over paper straws, and I'm sure you are too. Much like most liberal ideas, paper straws don't work and they fall apart instantly. That's why we just launched our latest product—Official Trump Straws," Parscale wrote. "Now you can finally be free from liberal paper straws that fall apart within minutes and ruin your drink." </p><p>Calls to ban plastic straws increased after a video of a turtle with a straw stuck up its nose went viral. Cities like <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/seattle-plastic-straw-ban-2579730918.html" target="_self">Seattle</a> have passed restrictions, and companies <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/starbucks-plastic-ban-2585390569.html" target="_self">including Starbucks</a> have vowed to phase them out. California <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-straws-california-2606762227.html" target="_self">became the first state</a> to ban them in sit-down restaurants last September.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ab9f931ff04e2eb2842d38bbed4ff960"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4wH878t78bw?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
</p><p>But conservatives aren't the only ones who have expressed frustration with the paper alternatives, which tend to become unusable as the liquid permeates them, NPR pointed out. Journalists across the political spectrum have complained about them on social media. For <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-straw-bans-disabled-2587630750.html" target="_self">some people with disabilities</a>, the flexibility and heat resistance of plastic straws are more than just a convenience: They enable people with mobility issues to hydrate on their own and drink independently when dining out.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1149411824657473536" id="twitter-embed-1149411824657473536" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1149411824657473536&created_ts=1562876108.0&screen_name=markberman&text=me+trying+to+use+a+paper+straw%2C+every+single+time+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FW0lBCmE8Vt&id=1149411824657473536&name=Mark+Berman" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="0H56XG1576663882"></iframe>
</p><p>When asked about straw bans on Friday, Trump gave an answer that was "oddly reasonable," according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/19/trump-plastic-straws" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>.<br></p><p>"I do think we have bigger problems than plastic straws," Trump answered. "You know, it's interesting about plastic straws: so, you have a little straw, but what about the plates, the wrappers, and everything else that are much bigger and they're made of the same material? So, the straws are interesting. Everybody focuses on the straws. There's a lot of other things to focus on. But it's an–it's an interesting question."</p><p>Plastic straws only account for about one percent of the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics" target="_self">plastic</a> in the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans" target="_self">oceans</a>, according to Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions co-director Jim Leape. The oft-cited statistic that Americans use 500 million straws a day was downgraded to between 170 - 390 million straws a day, according to market research firms cited in a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/business/plastic-straws-ban-fact-check-nyt.html" target="_blank">New York Times article</a> fact-checking the higher claim.</p><p>But Trump's uncharacteristically nuanced response seems to run against the tone his campaign manager was trying to set, The Guardian wrote, noting that Parscale was exploiting the straws' emerging position as a cultural-war battleground. Last summer, conservatives began taking defiant selfies of themselves drinking from plastic straws.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1024435048009748480" id="twitter-embed-1024435048009748480" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1024435048009748480&created_ts=1533079323.0&screen_name=KayaJones&text=Mmmm+yum+%F0%9F%98%8B+%23straw+tastes+good%21+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FmdilaSvJJW&id=1024435048009748480&name=Kaya+Jones" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="XFLMFU1576663882"></iframe>
</p><p>Some have joked that the Trump campaign's latest attempt to "own the libs" has become something of a self-own. That's because the straws sold by the Trump campaign, which are recyclable, BPA-free, U.S. made and laser engraved, also cost $1.50 per straw. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/20/some-day-turtle-may-end-up-with-trump-branded-straw-its-nose-heres-why/?utm_term=.996f6a150a56" target="_blank">The Washington Post noted</a> that they are much more expensive than other plastic straw options on the market. Even extra-thick, reusable straws sell on Amazon for around $8 per pack of 12 to 30.<br></p><p>"Paying $1.50 a straw to own the libs," ProPublica journalist Jessica Huseman tweeted, as USA Today reported.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1152054426267463680" id="twitter-embed-1152054426267463680" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1152054426267463680&created_ts=1563506154.0&screen_name=JessicaHuseman&text=Paying+%241.50+a+straw+to+own+the+libs+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FAAAuF4mPOJ&id=1152054426267463680&name=Jessica+Huseman" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="YSBYY91576663882"></iframe>
</p><p>Despite the cost, the straws proved popular with Trump supporters. Republican National Committee spokesperson Elizabeth Harrington tweeted Friday that they had sold out.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1152297624713793536" id="twitter-embed-1152297624713793536" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1152297624713793536&created_ts=1563564137.0&screen_name=LizRNC&text=Trump+Straws+already+SOLD+OUT%0A%0AShould+have+stocked+up+while+I+had+the+chance%21%0A%0A%23BanLibPaperStraws%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FGDhpKDX6qK&id=1152297624713793536&name=Elizabeth+Harrington" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="FLHJLS1576663883"></iframe>
</p>
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EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
Multicolored balloons flying to the sky. Jakkree Thampitakkull / Getty Images
We get it. Balloons are fun and make great decorations. But we hate to burst your bubble—balloons can be a big problem when they are deliberately released into the environment.
The litter is not only a blight on landscapes, waterways, trees and power lines, but balloons and balloon strings can entangle, choke or kill marine life and other animals. That's not to mention the wasteful use of helium, a non-renewable resource.
<p style="">
The
<a href="https://apnews.com/71082d3bb77e44a59408a69bc58caf89" target="_blank">Associated Press</a> reported Wednesday that much like recent efforts to ban <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-straws">plastic straws</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-bags">plastic bags</a>, balloons could similarly be on the way out as the general public becomes more environmentally conscious.
</p><p style="">
"The issue of straws has really broadened the marine debris issue," Emma Tonge of the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov" target="_blank">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> told the AP.
</p><p style="">
Recently, South Carolina's Clemson University
<a href="https://www.tigernet.com/update/No-More-Balloons-Clemson-ends-30-year-tradition-of-balloon-launch-30428" target="_blank">decision</a> last month to end its 30-year football gameday tradition of releasing 10,000 balloons into the air. Earlier this year, New Shoreham, an island town in Rhode Island, outright banned the sale, use and distribution of balloons.
</p><p>
Releasing balloons is not just an environmental problem, it could also be illegal. States such as California, Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia as well as a number of U.S. cities already have laws that restrict launches.
</p><p>
Balloons are usually made of latex, which is considered biodegradable. However, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) pointed out on a <a href="https://www.mcsuk.org/press/has-your-council-banned-balloon-releases" target="_blank">web post</a> that it can take months or years for the rubber to break down, meaning animals have plenty of time to come in contact with the debris.
</p><p>
"There's an awful lot of confusion over balloons especially what they're made of and how they break down," said MCS Pollution Campaigns Officer Emma Cunningham in the post. "Some people believe that because latex is natural balloons made of it are harmless once let go. This just isn't the case. Latex may last for up to four years in the marine environment."
</p><p style="">
Balloons made of other materials such as Mylar can last even longer in the environment because they are made of plastic, which never fully degrades. Not only that, California's Pacific Gas & Electric reported that metallic balloons caused 203 power outages in the first five months of 2018, up 22 percent from the year prior, according to the AP.
</p><p style="">
<span></span>Even the Balloon Council, which represents retailers, distributors and manufacturers, established "<a href="http://www.theballooncouncil.org/smart-balloon-practices/" target="_blank">Smart Balloon Practices</a>" to educate consumers on the proper handling of balloons and to stress the importance of never releasing helium-filled foil balloons.
</p><p style="">
In 2015, <a href="https://www.fws.gov" target="_blank">U.S. Fish and Wildlife</a> posted an
<a href="https://www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2015/8/5/Balloons-and-Wildlife-Please-Dont-Release-Your-Balloons" target="_blank">article</a> that advocated for alternatives to balloon releases and included photos of balloon litter impacting wildlife, including a bird strangled by a balloon string and a dead sea turtle that ingested a balloon.
</p><p>
<span></span>"The pictures are hard to look at," the post states, "but they make clearer than any words why we all should <a href="http://balloonsblow.org/alternatives/" target="_blank">find alternatives</a> to letting a balloon go."
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMwNzI3Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNTU0NjYxNH0.kLcobO2IxoTs206uK7_PXpKWPhLX3QdH9zj2I2267gY/img.jpg?width=980" id="25258" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="29d6fb4977f65400d83c824912e333e3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Pamela Denmon, USFWS</small>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMwNzI3MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTY5NjAwNn0.kHx4YjzrxkVyVbdqqVcQ_PZApwuanC1hLKWyaI8MWm0/img.jpg?width=980" id="5151b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="717cb13e19a84a61e3a9b67719e1bb07" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">USFWS Eastern Shore of VA and Fisherman Island NWR</small>
</p>
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Plastic Straw Bans Have Unintended Consequences for People with Disabilities
17 July 2018
Health + Wellness
Acting Sub Lt.niwat Thumma / EyeEm / Getty Images
The movement to ban plastic straws has gained major momentum this month, with Seattle's ban going into effect July 1 and companies like Starbucks, Hyatt and American Airlines all agreeing to phase the sucking devices out as well.
<p>But the anti-straw push has had unintended consequences for people with disabilities, many of whom need the flexibility and heat-resistance of plastic straws to be able to dine out. </p><p>"Many people with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis require the use of plastic straws in order to hydrate," <a href="https://www.disabilityrightswa.org/" target="_blank">Disability Rights Washington</a> co-wrote in an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/disabilityrightswa/photos/a.519865841447842.1073741835.113848822049548/1397155980385486/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">open letter</a> to the Seattle City Council about the ban. "Other types of straws simply do not offer the combination of strength, flexibility, and safety that plastic straws do."</p><p>A graphic has started circulating on Twitter showing exactly why other alternatives like paper (it dissolves) or metal (unsafe with hot liquids) won't work as accessible replacements.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1007782992117485568" id="twitter-embed-1007782992117485568" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1007782992117485568&created_ts=1529109163.0&screen_name=D_Siebe&text=%40NPR+Hi%2C+I+guess+it%27s+now+my+full+time+job+to+post+this+infographic+under+every+NPR+plastic+straws+story+until+anyo%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F9BtM9yUvtL&id=1007782992117485568&name=Destinee+Siebe+Hyphen" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="30Z3O01576662164"></iframe>
</p><p>For many people with disabilities, who make up one in five Americans, the ban on straws is yet another example of how their needs are overlooked by the able-bodied.<br></p><p>"Our voices are so often left out of the conversation, and our needs so rarely considered, because disabled people are not seen as fully equal members of society," Karin Hitselberger wrote in an a piece about the straw bans for <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/07/12/plastic-straw-bans-are-the-latest-policy-to-forget-the-disability-community/?utm_term=.e209a7d526b0" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>. </p><p>Flexible plastic straws were originally marketed for medical use, <a href="https://qz.com/1324094/how-the-starbucks-plastic-straw-ban-affects-people-with-disabilities/" target="_blank">Quartz reported</a>. Inventor Joseph B. Friedman sold the "Flex Straw" to help hospital patients drink while lying down. </p><p>But for the able-bodied, their medical usefulness has been forgotten and they have become a symbol of plastic waste. </p><p>David M. Perry speculated in <a href="https://psmag.com/environment/banning-straws-wont-save-the-oceans" target="_blank">Pacific Standard</a> the current push against straws might have come from a <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150817-sea-turtles-olive-ridley-marine-debris-ocean-animals-science/" target="_blank">2015 video</a> of a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nose, which helped straws become a stand-in for larger concerns about <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics" target="_self">plastics</a> polluting the world's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans" target="_self">oceans</a>. </p><p>But one gruesome video doesn't make straws a numerically significant as a threat to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/marine-life" target="_self">marine life</a> compared to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-bags" target="_self">plastic bags</a> or fishing gear, Perry wrote. The oft-cited figure that the U.S. throws away 500 million straws every day was actually estimated by a nine year old boy after calling three straw companies, Perry pointed out.</p><p>However, that doesn't mean plastic straws are not part of the larger problem. </p><p>"Straws are maybe not the biggest source of either plastic pollution or disposable plastic we consume, but they're in there," senior resource specialist for the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/" target="_blank">Natural Resources Defense Council</a> Darby Hoover told <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/07/11/627773979/why-people-with-disabilities-want-bans-on-plastic-straws-to-be-more-flexible" target="_blank">NPR</a>, adding that plastic in the oceans breaks down so much that it is hard to tell if a piece started out as a straw or a bottle. </p><p>Dune Ives of <a href="https://www.lonelywhale.org/" target="_blank">Lonely Whale</a>, a Seattle non-profit that has partnered with both <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/alaska-airlines-plastic-straws-2571032415.html" target="_self">Alaska Airlines</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/bacardi-lonely-whale-plastic-straws-2586276075.html" target="_self">Bacardi</a> on anti-straw measures, said the plastic straw was chosen partly for psychological reasons, as a hook to convince people to take action and change their behavior. </p><p>"To us, it was the 'gateway plastic' to the larger, more serious plastic pollution conversation," she <a href="https://www.globalwildlife.org/2017/10/19/the-gateway-plastic/" target="_blank">wrote</a>. </p><p>Disability advocates are sympathetic to the environmental motivations behind the straw bans, they just don't want to be left out of the movement. </p><p>Hitselberger and Perry, whose son has Down syndrome and uses plastic straws, both recommend that businesses simply keep plastic straws behind the counter for anyone who asks.</p><p>"We don't have to choose between making the world more sustainable or making it more accessible," Hitselberger wrote. </p><p>Co-founder of Scottish disability rights organization <a href="http://www.oneinfive.scot/" target="_blank">One in Five</a> Jamie Szymkowiak <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/issues/live-sustainably/735/guest-blog-action-on-plastics-shouldnt-make-life-suck-for-disabled-people/" target="_blank">wrote a post</a> for <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/" target="_blank">Greenpeace</a> also calling on manufacturers to work on designing sustainable, non-plastic straws that would work for disabled customers. </p><p>"As we move to ridding our oceans, beaches and parks of unnecessary single-use plastics, disabled people shouldn't be used as a scapegoat by large corporations, or governments, unwilling to push suppliers and manufacturers to produce a better solution. Instead, we must all work together to demand an environmentally friendly solution that meets all our needs, including those of disabled people," Szymkowiak wrote. </p>
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Bacardi and Lonely Whale to Remove 1 Billion Plastic Straws to Ensure #TheFutureDoesntSuck
13 July 2018
Oceans
London-based artist Sarah Tanat Jones created a set of illustrations specifically for the collaboration.
Bacardi, the world's largest privately-owned spirits company, and Lonely Whale, the innovative oceans nonprofit helping Alaska Airlines reduce plastic use, have teamed up with the goal of removing one billion plastic straws from circulation by 2020.
The pair announced their partnership Wednesday under the banner #thefuturedoesntsuck. As part of the initiative, Bacardi will also review its supply chain to see where it can eliminate other single-use plastics.
<p>"Engaging our accounts and our consumers in the reduction of single-use plastic is a critical next step in helping to put an end to plastic pollution," Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility for Bacardi Rick Wilson said in the announcement. "Single-use plastic items are <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/beach-litter-plastics-ocean-conservancy-2581760475.html" target="_blank">among the most collected pieces of trash</a> in our oceans, and we are urging our consumers to add 'No plastic straw, please' to every drink order so together we can make impactful change."</p><p>The initiative will kick off in London this summer, with a goal of eliminating 50 million plastic straws from the UK capital, <a href="https://barmagazine.co.uk/bacardi-spearheads-campaign-to-rid-bars-of-plastic-straws/" target="_blank">Bar Magazine reported</a>. </p><p>Bacardi will commit to removing plastic straws from all of its branded events, music performances and the Bacardi Rum Truck and to using biodegradable cups at all UK events. It will also donate the ticket sales from its Casa Bacardi music events in London, Manchester and Birmingham to Lonely Whale's <a href="https://www.strawlessocean.org/" target="_blank">Strawless Ocean</a> initiative. </p><p>To promote the campaign launch, the team has commissioned a series of illustrations showcasing the impact of plastic straws on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/marine-life" target="_self">marine life</a> by London artist Sarah Tanat Jones, according to Bar Magazine.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
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</p><p>In the fall, the campaign will cross the ocean to North America, where Bacardi will promote it at all of its music events.<br></p><p>Both Bacardi and Lonely Whale have a history of leading in the movement to clean the world's oceans.</p><p>"In 2016, Bacardi led the drinks industry with the first <a href="https://www.bacardilimited.com/bacardi-initiates-a-no-straw-movement-to-reduce-waste-2/" target="_blank">#NoStraws</a> campaign focusing on eliminating single-use plastic straws from its cocktails. In 2017, Lonely Whale amplified this early leadership, creating one of the most celebrated global movements around the single-use plastic straw with our Strawless Ocean initiative to remove 500 million plastic straws from the U.S. waste stream," Lonely Whale Executive Director Dune Ives said in the announcement. "Now in 2018, we celebrate the combined power of Bacardi and Lonely Whale to reduce the single-use plastic straw population by one billion by 2020 in what we believe will become one of the most impactful environmental campaigns of this decade."</p><p>The campaign will spread to locations around the world. In Bermuda, where Bacardi is headquartered, the brand is offering trainings to distributors and on-site locations in alternatives to plastic straws. Bacardi will promote alternatives to cocktail straws at partner chains and locations across the U.S. The pair will also focus on promoting strawless options with 10 hospitality industry leaders in China.</p>Any bar fly or bar owner who wants to join the push to make sure #thefuturedoesn'tsuck can pledge support as either an individual or a venue at <a href="https://www.thefuturedoesntsuck.org" target="_blank">https://www.thefuturedoesntsuck.org</a>.<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
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Starbucks Becomes Largest Food and Beverage Retailer to Announce Plastic Straw Ban
10 July 2018
Business
The new strawless lids that will replace straws in Starbucks worldwide. Starbucks
Starbucks announced Monday it would become the largest food and beverage retailer to phase out plastic straws, aiming to complete the process at locations worldwide by 2020, CNN Money reported. The decision will remove more than one billion straws from circulation annually, the company said.
<p>Starbucks' decision comes little over a week after a ban on plastic straws in its birth city of Seattle went into effect July 1. </p><p>"For our partners and customers, this is a significant milestone to achieve our global aspiration of sustainable coffee, served to our customers in more sustainable ways," Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said in a statement reported by the <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/starbucks-to-eliminate-plastic-straws_us_5b435614e4b09e4a8b2f37c5" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>.</p><p>Instead, the coffee company will roll out a recyclable strawless lid. It will still offer paper or compostable plastic straws with blended Frappuccino drinks or by customer request. </p><p>Eight million metric tons (approximately 8.2 million U.S. tons) of plastic a year end up in the world's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans">oceans</a>, Nicholas Mallos of the <a href="https://oceanconservancy.org/" target="_blank">Ocean Conservancy</a> told CNN Money. In its <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/beach-litter-plastics-ocean-conservancy-2581760475.html" target="_self">most recent count</a>, the Ocean Conservancy's <a href="https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FINAL-2018-ICC-REPORT.pdf" target="_blank">International Coastal Cleanup</a> found that plastic straws and stirrers were number seven on its list of the 10 most collected types of beach trash. </p><p>Starbucks isn't the first company to announce a ban on plastic straws in reaction to growing global concern over the impact of ocean <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics" target="_self">plastics</a> on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/marine-life" target="_self">marine life</a>. Hyatt also announced Monday that, starting Sept. 1, plastic straws and drink picks would only be available upon request, CNN Money reported. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/alaska-airlines-plastic-straws-2571032415.html" target="_self">Alaska Airlines</a> will stop distributing plastic stirring straws and drink picks July 16, and McDonald's announced in March it would stop using plastic straws in UK restaurants. </p><p>On the government level, the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-ban-malibu-2540406956.html" target="_self">city of Malibu, California</a>, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/uk-plastics-ban-2561478381.html" target="_self">the UK government</a> and the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/eu-plastics-ban-2573215290.html" target="_self">EU</a> have all announced or proposed bans.<br></p><p>Environmental groups praised the coffee chain's decision. </p><p>"Plastic straws that end up in our oceans have a devastating effect on species," director of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability">sustainability</a> research & development and material science at World Wildlife Fund, U.S. Erin Simon said in a statement reported by CNN Money. "We hope others will follow in [Starbucks'] footsteps."</p><p>Starbucks will begin offering its strawless plastic lids in stores in Seattle and Vancouver this fall. Eight thousand stores n the U.S. and Canada already stock the lids, the Huffington Post reported.</p><p>Starbucks Global Research & Development engineer Emily Alexander, who originally designed the lid to showcase the company's Draft Nitro drink, was thrilled to learn of her design's wider rollout. </p><p>"I am really excited to have developed something that can be part of this big transformation of going strawless," she said in a <a href="https://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-announces-environmental-milestone" target="_blank">Starbucks press release</a>. "It was this very small thing and now it is so much bigger and more impactful."</p><p>A Starbucks spokeswoman said in an email to the Huffington Post that customers seemed to like the new lids.</p><p>"We've had great feedback from customers and partners (employees) so far, and we'll continue to take customer feedback and adjust as we move along," she wrote.</p><p>She also said the company would not raise prices because of the transition, saying the investment would have a "net-neutral impact for our business by 2020."</p>
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Kai Schreiber / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Momentum is building in the war against single-use plastics. In the past week, a slew of major companies—including SeaWorld parks, American Express, cruise company Royal Caribbean, IKEA, A&W Canada and Burger King UK—have pledged to eliminate items such as plastic drinking straws, stirrers, lids and bags in efforts to protect our oceans and their inhabitants.
SeaWorld Entertainment announced Thursday, right before World Oceans Day, that all 12 of its theme parks have removed all single-use plastic drinking straws and shopping bags.
<p style="">
"This milestone environmental achievement is a testament to our mission to protect the environment, the ocean and the animals we share our planet with, which are currently threatened by unprecedented amounts of plastic pollution," said interim SeaWorld CEO John Reilly in a statement. "We see the harmful effects of plastic pollution in the animals we rescue and rehabilitate, and therefore, recognize the importance of doing our part to curb plastic pollution."
</p><p style="">
Similarly, American Express, through a new partnership with
<a href="http://www.parley.tv/">Parley for the Oceans</a>, said Wednesday it will phase out plastic straws and coffee stirrers for all its major offices and Centurion airport lounges globally within 30 days. Among other measures, the company will also pursue zero waste certification for its New York City headquarters by 2025, and launch a credit card manufactured primarily from recovered plastic found in the oceans and on the coasts. The ocean plastic card currently exists as a prototype and is expected be made available to the public within the next 12 months.
</p><p>
"Every second breath we take is created by the oceans," said Cyrill Gutsch, founder of Parley for the Oceans, in a statement. "Without them, we can't exist. American Express is creating a symbol of change and inviting their network to shape a blue future, one based on creativity, collaboration and eco-innovation."
</p><p>
As for the fast food world, even if McDonald's shareholders seem to be
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/mcdonalds-plastic-straws-2571961793.html" target="_blank">dragging their feet</a> about plastic straws, other quick service joints have joined the anti-plastic bandwagon. Following in the <a href="http://fortune.com/2018/03/28/mcdonalds-plastic-straw-ban/">footsteps of its UK-rival</a>, Burger King UK marked World Oceans Day with their own announcement:
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That same day, A&W Canada became the first fast food chain in North America to commit to eliminating plastic straws from its restaurants by January 2019 and offer paper straws as an option. The company said the move will prevent 82 million plastic straws from ending up in landfills every year,
<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/a-w-canada-to-eliminate-plastic-straws-from-all-restaurants-1.4698272" target="_blank">CBC</a> reported.
</p><p>
"Introducing packaging innovations that reduce waste is key to A&W's environmental strategy," said Tyler Pronyk, A&W Canada's director of distribution, equipment & packaging, as quoted by
<a href="http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/waste_not/sustainable_brands/trending_single-use_plastics_continue_be_tossed_brands" target="_blank">Sustainable Brands</a>. "By using compostable packaging, real mugs, plates and cutlery, we are diverting millions of single-use packaging from landfills every year."
</p><p>
<span></span>The corporate tide against plastics coincides with commitments made
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-g7-climate-change-oceans-2577091904.html">earlier this week</a>, in which Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the EU endorsed the <a href="https://g7.gc.ca/en/official-documents/charlevoix-blueprint-healthy-oceans-seas-resilient-coastal-communities/#a1" target="_blank">G7 Ocean Plastics Charter</a>, which sets goals towards reducing the use of unnecessary plastics and improving recycling. Japan and the U.S., however, declined to sign the agreement.
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One More Generation
By John R. Platt
Sometimes a couple of kids can help change the world.
<p>Siblings Carter and Olivia Ries founded their nonprofit <a href="http://onemoregeneration.org/" target="_blank">One More Generation</a> (OMG) in 2009, when they were just 8 and 7 years old, out of a desire to protect the world's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/endangered-species">endangered species</a>. Their journey to heal the planet has taken them around the world, from assisting injured wildlife after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil-spill disaster to delivering thousands of handwritten letters to South Africa's President Zuma, imploring him to do more to end rhino <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/poaching">poaching</a>.</p><p>Last year Carter and Olivia, now 17 and 16, pointed their attention at one important solution for helping wildlife: getting people and businesses to reduce or phase out their use of disposable <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics">plastic</a>, most notably straws, which have been known to injure or kill animals around the world.</p><p>Through their <a href="https://onelessstraw.org/" target="_blank">One Less Straw</a> campaign, the Georgia-based teens have worked with individual consumers and businesses around the country and the world on issues related to plastic consumption. Carter and Olivia spoke with The Revelator to discuss their campaign, how they work to change minds and habits, and what they see for the future.</p><p><strong>Your One Less Straw campaign has really taken off, and several other organizations have joined the call to help reduce the amount of straws or other plastic items from our dinner tables. Are you satisfied with how far things have come so far or do you still see a lot of work left to do?</strong></p><p><strong>Olivia: </strong>Yes, we're very satisfied with how things are going so far. We started back in October of last year and we've had many big organizations partnered up with us. I do believe we have some more work to do. We'd like to reach out to even more people over time and educate more of today's youth.</p><p><strong>Carter: </strong>As much as people may have done, we can always do more. There are billions of plastic straws continuing to go into our landfills. I believe that no matter the situation, we all need to continue our work. We need to push on so that the future generations can see how anyone can make a difference.</p><p><strong>Obviously this isn't just about straws. What are the real impacts you care about in getting the world to use One Less Straw?</strong></p><p><strong>Carter:</strong> Our campaign is about the awareness. We believe that education is the key to any problem anyone faces. You can't fix a problem you don't know about. When we give presentations, we don't tell the people what they need to do — we don't force people to change immediately. What we do is we educate them. We want to have a personal impact on every person so that they will resonate with the issue more. That's how One More Generation started, because we educated ourselves on an issue and decided to try and solve it no matter how long it would take. That is the true message we want to leave people with.</p><p><strong>Olivia: </strong>If you just think about it, plastic has been here for a long time and the first piece of plastic is probably still somewhere on this Earth. Plastic doesn't just go away. Plastic is <a href="http://therevelator.org/toxic-plastic-pollution-food-chain/" target="_blank">in our food chain</a>, fish are eating it and getting sick, birds are getting sick, and many more animals are affected by our plastic waste.</p><p><strong>On the flip side, what's the biggest objection people or organizations give you to getting rid of straws — and how do you overcome it?</strong></p><p><strong>Carter: </strong>One of the biggest objections we face with any company or organization when we start is cost. We tend to see that one of the biggest obstacles is the issue of whether they can afford sustainable straws. So we created campaign buttons that say, "We Only Serve Straws Upon Request, Ask Me Why." This starts a conversation with the people who would usually receive a straw and once again they become educated on the issue. In every restaurant we have given these to, we've seen a 70 to 80 percent reduction in plastic straw uses, and from that the restaurant is saving money and has been able to switch to something such as paper straws.</p><p>We believe that there is always a solution to an issue if you try. It may take time, but it is possible.</p><p><strong>Olivia:</strong> Many organizations or restaurants that sign up with our campaign are worried about the cost as well as what the customers will think of either removing all straws or switching to more sustainable straws. Ninety percent of people can live without a straw. Of course there are people with sensitive teeth or medical problems but there are other alternatives such as paper, glass or metal straws.</p><p><strong>If we can make so much progress to reduce this one type of single-use plastic, what other types of products or packaging do you think we could start to remove from our plastic "diets"?</strong></p><p><strong>Olivia:</strong> I think that one other big problem is the small plastic bags we put our produce in at the grocery store. There are many other ways you can carry your fruits and vegetables without using plastic.</p><p><strong>Carter: </strong>There are so many different types of plastic and things that end up in our landfill that we have found other issues that we want to help fix. We partnered up with Delta Airlines and went to their cafeteria and took notes on what to fix. One of the major issues is the shrink wrap around every container. If you notice, many companies use shrink wrap on many different items and it lands up in our landfill very easily and animals eat it and die. We also noticed in the Delta cafeterias that by not using a straw, people no longer need a lid, thus reducing more plastic from our environment. So there are many things that go along with the straw awareness.</p><p>Another issue is the six-can rings around soda cans. Some of the rings get thrown in with the cans and go to the same place, and if the rings are still around the cans, they tend to be thrown away. So there are truly so many problems but we have found that focusing on one at a time and improving that issue, helps so much.</p><p><strong>Next year will be OMG's tenth anniversary. Did you ever imagine how far this journey to help wildlife would take you?</strong></p><p><strong>Carter: </strong>I never believed that this is what I would be doing. Don't get me wrong—it's the best decision we've ever made. If I didn't do OMG for the amount of time we have been, I honestly don't know what I would be doing. The fact that we have been doing this for over half my life continues to surprise me. We meet so many people along the way and to think that everything we are doing started because of cheetahs is still unbelievable. One thing leads to the next and more and more amazing opportunities come with it. I love what I do and would never change anything. One More Generation has changed my life for the better, and I love it.</p><p><strong>Olivia: </strong>When we first started OMG we didn't think we would get this far or reach as many people as we have. I feel like we've made a big difference, but we can't do this alone. Our goal is to educate others about these issues, so they can go out and make a difference.</p><p> <em>Reposted with permission from our media associate </em><em><a href="http://therevelator.org/plastic-straws-problem-solution/" target="_blank">The Revelator</a>.</em></p>
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At least 700,000 tons of abandoned fishing gear enter the oceans each year. Pixabay
In an ambitious effort to stop ocean pollution, the European Commission on Monday proposed banning the 10 most common single-use plastic products as well as lost and abandoned fishing gear.
The European Union's executive arm targeted the products that are most often found on the continent's beaches and seas, which together account for 70 percent of its marine litter.
<p>
"Plastic waste is undeniably a big issue and Europeans need to act together to tackle this problem, because plastic waste ends up in our air, our soil, our oceans, and in our food," said EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans in a statement.
</p><p>
<span></span>"Worldwide this is the most ambitious and comprehensive legal proposal addressing marine litter. We can lead the way. We have to lead the way for our environment, for our health, but also to turn this into a competitive advantage for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news" target="_blank">Europe</a>," Timmermans, as quoted by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/28/eu-challenges-uk-to-race-to-the-top-on-plastics-reduction" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, told reporters as he unveiled the measures on Sunday.
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<span></span>The proposed rules are tailored for the different products. For instance, single-use plastic products with readily available alternatives will be banned from the market. That applies to plastic cotton buds, cutlery, plates, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-straws">straws</a>, drink stirrers and sticks for balloons—all will have to be made from more sustainable materials.
</p><p>
For products without a straightforward alternative—including food containers and packaging (i.e. chip bags and candy bars), cigarette butts, wet wipes, balloons and lightweight
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-bags">plastic bags</a>—the plan is to limit their use with reduction targets and push manufacturers to stem pollution of their products.
</p><p>
Under the proposal, manufacturers will help cover the costs of waste management and cleanup, along with implementing clear labels that instruct how the waste should be safely disposed. Further, manufacturers will be given incentives to develop less polluting alternatives for their products.
</p><p>
Similarly, producers of plastic fishing gear, which accounts for 27 percent of all beach litter, will have to cover the costs of waste collection from port reception facilities and its transport and treatment, along with covering the costs of awareness-raising measures.
</p><p>
A recent report from the international nonprofit World Animal Protection estimates that at least
<a href="https://d31j74p4lpxrfp.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/ca_-_en_files/ghosts_beneath_the_waves_2018_web_singles.pdf" target="_blank">700,000 tons</a> of new fishing nets, aka "<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/ghost-gear">ghost gear</a>," enter the sea each year. Unfortunately, the plastics that make up most of the nets in the oceans today take <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/discarded-fishing-net-killing-2569766800.html">around 600 years</a> to break apart.
</p><p>
The European Commission has also set a target for its 28 member states to collect 90 percent of single-use plastic
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water">drink bottles</a> by 2025.
</p><p>
<span></span>These new measures, if implemented, would prevent 3.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions and avoid €22 billion in environmental damages by 2030 and save consumers a projected €6.5 billion, the commission estimated.
</p><p>
The commission noted in a press release: "Across the world, plastics make up 85 percent of marine litter. And plastics are even reaching people's lungs and dinner tables, with
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/microplastics">microplastics</a> in the air, water and food having an unknown impact on their health. Tackling the plastics problem is a must and it can bring new opportunities for innovation, competitiveness and job creation."
</p><p>
The measure needs approval from its member states plus the European Parliament for adoption. The European Commission urged the EU's other institutions to "treat this as a priority file, and to deliver tangible results for Europeans before the elections in May 2019."
</p><p>
<span></span>The directive was praised by environmental organizations.
</p><p>
"The only way to stop plastics pouring into our oceans is to turn off the flow at its source: production. By reducing the amount of unnecessary plastic we produce, we can make a real difference to the global marine litter crisis,"
<a href="http://eu.oceana.org/en/press-center/press-releases/oceana-hails-eu-plan-curbing-plastic-production-major-move-tackle-ocean" target="_blank">Oceana Europe</a> executive director Lasse Gustavsson said in a statement.
</p><p>
However, Gustavsson urged the commission to stretch the ban to cover "all single-use plastic products throughout the European Union."
</p><p>
<span></span>"The plastics problem is not only on our beaches," he added. "Oceana has discovered plastic litter in the depths of our deep blue seas—often at depths of 1,000 meters below the surface—during research expeditions across Europe."
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Aardvark
Last week, New York City lawmakers introduced a bill banning plastic straws in all bars and restaurants in the Big Apple, joining the growing worldwide war against this environmental scourge.
"There are 500 million straws being used everyday in the U.S.," Councilman Rafael L. Espinal Jr., the bill's lead sponsor, told NY1 on Thursday. "That's enough to fill Yankee Stadium five times over."
<p>
The 8 million tons of
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics">plastic</a> garbage that flows into our <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans">oceans</a> every year can easily harm or entangle <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/marine-life">marine life</a>, which is why it's important for us to prevent further damage. As Espinal <a href="https://twitter.com/RLEspinal/status/999343484367753216" target="_blank">tweeted</a>, "It's time for us as consumers to protect our planet by weaning off our dependence on single use plastic."
</p><p>
<span></span>The councilman is right. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/straws-plastic-pollution-2461919306.html">Skipping the straw</a>, or opting for one of these sustainable options below, is a great way to start.
</p><p>
<strong>1. Compostable Straws</strong>
</p><p>
Marvin Stone invented the original paper straw in 1888. His invention was the go-to choice until plastic varieties became the standard after the 1960s. But there are still many paper varieties on the market today, including <a href="http://www.aardvarkstraws.com/" target="_blank">Aardvark</a>, which sells durable, compostable paper tubes based on Stone's original patent. Last September, Aardvark teamed up with ocean advocacy group <a href="https://www.lonelywhale.org/" target="_blank">Lonely Whale Foundation</a> for <a href="https://www.strawlessocean.org/seattle/" target="_blank">Strawless in Seattle</a>, the first-ever citywide takeover to eliminate plastic straws.
</p><p>
Compostable straws work well if you like the convenience of something disposable or plan to serve drinks at a party or gathering. Other choices include straws made from <a href="https://www.haystraws.com/" target="_blank">wheat stems</a> (yes a straw straw) or <a href="http://www.bgreentoday.com/biodegradable-products/corn-pla-79-straw">corn bioplastic</a> (although this material is best composted in a commercial composting facility). One <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6282028/plastic-straws-replaced-pasta/" target="_blank">restaurant</a> in Bristol, England even pairs drinks with Bucatini pasta, a spaghetti-like noodle with a hole running through the middle.
</p><p>
<strong>2. Bamboo</strong>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/simple-tips-to-reduce-waste-2561236357.html" target="_blank">Reusable</a> straws are ideal for sipping beverages at home or when you're on the go. One of the best options is bamboo, as these all-natural straws are usually made without pesticides, chemicals or dyes. Bamboo is also a versatile and rapidly renewable crop. Since it's a natural material, bamboo straws are not dishwasher-safe and must be hand-washed. You also want the straw to be bone dry after cleaning and stored in a well-ventilated place to prevent mold. Check out <a href="https://strawfree.org/shop/" target="_blank">StrawFree</a>, which even sells an extra-wide, boba-friendly straw so you'll be able to sip bubble tea sans plastic.
<strong></strong>
</p><p>
<strong>3. Metal</strong>
</p><p>
<strong></strong>Unlike bamboo, which might wear and tear over time, metal straws are made to last. I own dishwasher-safe, stainless steel straws from <a href="http://bunkoza.com/product/bunkoza-eco-straws-classic-stainless-steel-drinking-straw-cleaner/" target="_blank">Bunkoza</a>, which comes with a handy pouch and a natural wool cleaner. I love them because they keep my drinks cool, although they did clink against my teeth when I wasn't used to them at first. If you don't like the idea of toting around a metal tube, the Santa Fe-based team at <a href="https://finalstraw.com/" target="_blank">FinalStraw</a> have also invented the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/finalstraw-collapsible-straw-2562955647.html" target="_blank">world's first collapsible</a> stainless steel straw that you can conveniently attach to your keychain.
</p><p>
<strong>4. Glass</strong>
</p><p>
<strong></strong>Another eco-friendly, long-lasting option is glass. Although these can break or shatter if you are not careful, the advantage is you can see through them, so you can make sure they are squeaky clean. Another cool thing about glass straws is that they come in all kinds of colors and whimsical designs. <a href="https://www.strawesome.com/discover/choosing-best-glass-straw/" target="_blank">Strawsome</a> has advice on the perfect glass straw for you.<span></span>
</p><p>
<strong>5. Silicone</strong>
</p><p>
Unlike metal or glass, soft and bendy silicone straws don't clink your teeth, making them ideal for kids and straw-biters. <a href="https://www.softystraws.com/" target="_blank">Softy Straws</a> are made from food grade, BPA-free silicone and can handle extreme temperatures, so they work with hot drinks and can withstand the dishwasher.</p><p><em>*Note: The 500 million straws a day statistic stated in this article comes from the nonprofit <a href="http://www.ecocycle.org/bestrawfree" target="_blank">Eco-Cycle</a>. The statistic has been widely used in other media outlets including <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/01/travel/straw-bans-hotels-resorts.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-waste-factbox/small-changes-big-impact-how-to-reduce-waste-in-your-daily-life-idUSKCN1BF043" target="_blank">Reuters</a>, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/14/world/plastic-straws-ban-campaigns/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>, as well as by the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/straw-free.htm" target="_blank">National Park Service</a>. The statistic has <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/04/22/nbc-news-source-for-fishy-statistic-about-plastic-straws-is-research-by-9-year-old-boy.html" target="_blank">received criticism</a>, and in July 2018, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/business/plastic-straws-ban-fact-check-nyt.html" target="_blank">New York Times published a story about the debate</a>, stating that "market research firms put the figure between 170 million and 390 million per day." </em></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
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Calgary Reviews / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
McDonald's shareholders rejected a proposal to take the first step in banning plastic straws at its 36,000 outlets worldwide.
The proposal, published in an SEC filing in April, would have required the fast food giant to prepare a report on the business risks of using plastic straws, and the company's efforts to develop and implement more sustainable alternatives in its restaurants.
<p>"We believe our company has an opportunity to improve its brand by demonstrating leadership in the elimination of plastic straws," the proposal states.</p><p>
Despite vigorous campaigning from environmental activists, the proposal received only 7.65 percent of the vote at Thursday's annual meeting, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/05/24/mcdonalds-shareholders-vote-keep-plastic-straws/640916002/" target="_blank">USA TODAY reported</a>.
</p><p><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/mcdonalds-plastic-straws-2565559405.html">The result was not surprising</a>. The shareholders followed a recommendation from the chain's board of directors, who said the proposal would divert resources from their other environmental initiatives, such as a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-pollution-mcdonalds-2525962206.html">pledge made in January</a> to source all packaging from renewable or recycled sources by 2025. </p><p>"[T]he requested report is unnecessary, redundant to our current practices and initiatives, and has the potential for a diversion of resources with no corresponding benefit to the company, our customers, and our shareholders, particularly in light of our ongoing packaging sustainability efforts," stated materials shared with shareholders before the meeting, th<em>e </em><a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/04/30/mcdonalds-pushed-to-ban-plastic-straws-in-the-united-states-2/" target="_blank">Mercury News</a> reported.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
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</p><p>McDonald's distributes 95 million plastic straws around the world every day, according to the consumer advocacy group <a href="https://www.sumofus.org/" target="_blank">SumOfUs</a>, which backed the proposal.<br></p><p>
A SumOfUs <a href="https://actions.sumofus.org/a/mcdonalds-is-polluting-our-oceans" target="_blank">online petition</a> urging the company to ban plastic straws has gathered more than 480,000 signatures.
</p><p>
"McDonald's uses millions of plastic straws every single day. Used for just a few seconds, then thrown away, many end up polluting our <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans">oceans</a>," the petition reads. "If we can get McDonald's to ditch its dirty habit we can stop millions of plastic straws clogging up our oceans and killing the animals that live in them."</p><p>McDonald's might not be ready to take this step, but many <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/aquarium-ban-plastic-2456704823.html">businesses</a>, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/vancouver-bans-single-use-plastics-2569954073.html">municipalities</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/uk-plastics-ban-2561478381.html">governments</a> around the world are taking steps to reduce single-use plastics. </p><p>Earlier this week, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/alaska-airlines-plastic-straws-2571032415.html">Alaska Airlines</a> announced it will stop distributing single-use plastic stirring straws and citrus picks in its lounges and on its domestic and international flights. On Wednesday, New York City Council introduced a bill to ban the use of plastic straws in the city.
</p><p>
In March, McDonald's said it would phase out single-use plastic straws in its UK restaurants.
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