Did You Know?
1. Straws are energy intensive products.
Up to 1,270,388 litres of oil are used in Taiwan annually just to make the plastic for the straws.
2. Straws contribute to cancer.
The Consumer’s Foundation in Taiwan reported that 10 out of 80 straws were lead-tainted, the 10 straws contained ppm levels of over 100 (accepted ppm levels). The President of the foundation had stated that orange, yellow, and green straws are most likely to contain lead, which can cause cancer in the long run.
3. Many straws end up in the oceans.
90% of ocean garbage is plastic, and 43% of marine animals have ingested plastic.
4. There are biodegradable or reusable straws on the market.
Recently, foundations and non-profit organisations have supported alternative methods of straw-use, like glass straws for their long-term use, and paper straws, which are much easier to decompose. These alternative forms of straws are “green” and reduce the overload of plastic waste in landfills and our oceans.
For people that are not fans of glass straws, there are also metal straws that seem to be more practical to carry. The advantages of stainless steel straws include: handy, elegant, washable, safe, non-toxic, and not easily broken like glass straws.