Skip The Straw
Today is National Skip the Straw Day and we are excited to be participating! We think you should too, and here is why it’s a savvy choice!
According to National Geographic, “in just the U.S. alone, one estimate suggests 500 million straws are used every single day.” Many of these end up on beaches and waterways. The same article estimates that 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world's beaches. This is because they are so lightweight they can easily be carried by wind. Additionally, straws are not able to be recycled and many people do not dispose of them properly. Why is this harmful? For one, they can be harmful to animals that mistake them for food or have them get stuck in orifices. Another reason is they break down into microplastics eventually, which leach toxins into the water, and ultimately blanket the ocean floor. Furthermore, plastic can be thought of as a magnet that attracts other harmful chemicals.
What can you do instead when you forego the straw?
Sip your drink the old fashioned way
Use straws made out of alternative materials (metal, silicone, bamboo)
Want to learn more? Check out our article on straws here!
