I spent a little time in the U.S. recently, and when we went out for dinner one evening, I saw something I hadn’t seen for a long time. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know what to do …
It was a plastic straw.
Apparently, there are still many jurisdictions that haven’t banned them. For the most part, they are still pretty common.
We spent years doing all we could to reduce the cutting of trees, but it seems paper is the better alternative now. Trees are renewable, but plastic straws don’t grow on, well, trees. But can’t plastic be recycled?
I did a little digging – it seems an article about plastic straws (and plastic bags and can holders for that matter) causing distress and death of marine mammals motivated governments to ban them. Paper versions break down before they make it to the ocean.
But now research is showing that ‘forever chemicals’ are required to make the straw strong enough to be able to drink through it.
I remember, a long time ago, trying to suck a milkshake through a flimsy paper straw, which promptly proceeded to collapse on itself. The new version holds up a lot better, but it sounds like if I use them too much, I’ll start glowing in the dark.
Instead of using the straw, I opted for a radical solution – I drank from the glass. Sure, the ice got in the way a bit, but it’s a small price to pay for the good of the environment. And I didn’t get freezer-brain either.
Costco has abandoned straws altogether, with the little plastic lid that flips up. Just like a Tim’s coffee. Starbucks just has a little hole, so you only get a sip and not burn yourself. If they can solve it, so can I.
So for me, that was my final straw.
Brad Sherwin, MBA is a long-time resident of South Delta, and has over 30 years experience in marketing, public relations and business strategy. He teaches post-secondary marketing, coaches hockey goalies and is Past President of Deltassist.
