Do plastic straws really contribute to environment pollution significantly in Western countries? Or that's rather a fad and a positive message? It's just unbelievable how the tiny straws, even...
Do plastic straws really contribute to environment pollution significantly in Western countries? Or that's rather a fad and a positive message? It's just unbelievable how the tiny straws, even while numerous, end up in ocean or wherever. South East Asian rivers are more known for pollution but straws aren't banned over there...
These bans aren't just about preventing that particular plastic product from entering the environment but also about reducing plastic production in general, encouraging the development of...
These bans aren't just about preventing that particular plastic product from entering the environment but also about reducing plastic production in general, encouraging the development of alternative, environmentally friendly materials/products and artificially boosting the economy of scale to make them more viable as replacements even in places that don't have similar bans. If we want to stop plastic from entering our environment and continuing to devastate our planet's wildlife we have to start somewhere and plastics bag, straws, etc are a perfect candidates for kicking this process off using bans because they are non-essential and purely about convenience.
Some people with corn allergies have reported reactions from corn-based plastics, so... they're an option, but unless every straw is labeled with its source there's a risk of adverse effects. (The...
(The process to create plastics from corn and other plant sources supposedly destroys the proteins, but there doesn't seem to be actually much research into this aspect, if any. And I imagine that if foods without nuts have to have warnings if they're produced in the same facility as nut-containing foods, straws made of corn could be "contaminated" from materials earlier in the manufacturing process, even if the finished product is technically safe.)
Maybe? These processes are typically pretty far removed from dealing with some corn mash. They seem to only want a couple reagents from the corn. It just doesn't seem very likely that people who...
Maybe? These processes are typically pretty far removed from dealing with some corn mash. They seem to only want a couple reagents from the corn. It just doesn't seem very likely that people who have corn allergies would be allergic to PLA. Although if there are actual credible incidents of people having allergic reactions to PLA products research should be done. At least something from a source more reliable than "Corn Allergy Girl".
Paper straws from Aardvark (https://www.aardvarkstraws.com/) have, supposedly, come a long way. You can read up on their story on their website. They do wholesale to restaurants and whatnot, so...
Paper straws from Aardvark (https://www.aardvarkstraws.com/) have, supposedly, come a long way. You can read up on their story on their website. They do wholesale to restaurants and whatnot, so maybe we'll be seeing them soon.
Gotta start somewhere though. Hopefully with the ban on plastic straws more alternative materials will be pushed and so became cheaper and used more widely...eventually.
Gotta start somewhere though. Hopefully with the ban on plastic straws more alternative materials will be pushed and so became cheaper and used more widely...eventually.
Perhaps, but a good case could be made for plastic bottles being much more useful than straws. Also, the idea that if you don't do exactly the most effective thing possible then it's not worth...
Perhaps, but a good case could be made for plastic bottles being much more useful than straws.
Also, the idea that if you don't do exactly the most effective thing possible then it's not worth doing anything at all is just wrong imo.
I imagine disabled folks who can't drink without straws would consider them useful :) I think the fact that straws aren't a major contributor to plastic pollution is a valid thing to bring up,...
Perhaps, but a good case could be made for plastic bottles being much more useful than straws.
I imagine disabled folks who can't drink without straws would consider them useful :)
I think the fact that straws aren't a major contributor to plastic pollution is a valid thing to bring up, especially since some of the more stringent bans have a negative impact on an already marginalized portion of the population. And it didn't sound like @KaosHeaven is saying that it's not worth doing anything at all, just that there might be better sources of pollution to tackle instead.
Yeah, there's been a lot of outcry in online disability communities about these types of bans. This one isn't as bad as some that have been implemented since you can ask for a plastic straw, but...
The concern for disabled persons in the article also strikes me as plausible.
Yeah, there's been a lot of outcry in online disability communities about these types of bans. This one isn't as bad as some that have been implemented since you can ask for a plastic straw, but as noted in the article there's the risk that people will end up being forced to justify themselves in order to receive one. (Barriers to accessibility, such as people who question your need for something, are unfortunately nothing new to disabled folks.)
Do plastic straws really contribute to environment pollution significantly in Western countries? Or that's rather a fad and a positive message? It's just unbelievable how the tiny straws, even while numerous, end up in ocean or wherever. South East Asian rivers are more known for pollution but straws aren't banned over there...
These bans aren't just about preventing that particular plastic product from entering the environment but also about reducing plastic production in general, encouraging the development of alternative, environmentally friendly materials/products and artificially boosting the economy of scale to make them more viable as replacements even in places that don't have similar bans. If we want to stop plastic from entering our environment and continuing to devastate our planet's wildlife we have to start somewhere and plastics bag, straws, etc are a perfect candidates for kicking this process off using bans because they are non-essential and purely about convenience.
I get this is good for the environment and all, but the substitute straws they give always go soggy and taste of cardboard
Is corn-based plastic a viable option?
Some people with corn allergies have reported reactions from corn-based plastics, so... they're an option, but unless every straw is labeled with its source there's a risk of adverse effects.
(The process to create plastics from corn and other plant sources supposedly destroys the proteins, but there doesn't seem to be actually much research into this aspect, if any. And I imagine that if foods without nuts have to have warnings if they're produced in the same facility as nut-containing foods, straws made of corn could be "contaminated" from materials earlier in the manufacturing process, even if the finished product is technically safe.)
Maybe? These processes are typically pretty far removed from dealing with some corn mash. They seem to only want a couple reagents from the corn. It just doesn't seem very likely that people who have corn allergies would be allergic to PLA. Although if there are actual credible incidents of people having allergic reactions to PLA products research should be done. At least something from a source more reliable than "Corn Allergy Girl".
Dude you can do that that's so cool corn is awesome
Paper straws from Aardvark (https://www.aardvarkstraws.com/) have, supposedly, come a long way. You can read up on their story on their website. They do wholesale to restaurants and whatnot, so maybe we'll be seeing them soon.
Honestly this feels like a fairly big waste of everyone's time, plastic bottles are more of an environmental impact than straws.
Gotta start somewhere though. Hopefully with the ban on plastic straws more alternative materials will be pushed and so became cheaper and used more widely...eventually.
Perhaps, but a good case could be made for plastic bottles being much more useful than straws.
Also, the idea that if you don't do exactly the most effective thing possible then it's not worth doing anything at all is just wrong imo.
I imagine disabled folks who can't drink without straws would consider them useful :)
I think the fact that straws aren't a major contributor to plastic pollution is a valid thing to bring up, especially since some of the more stringent bans have a negative impact on an already marginalized portion of the population. And it didn't sound like @KaosHeaven is saying that it's not worth doing anything at all, just that there might be better sources of pollution to tackle instead.
Yeah, there's been a lot of outcry in online disability communities about these types of bans. This one isn't as bad as some that have been implemented since you can ask for a plastic straw, but as noted in the article there's the risk that people will end up being forced to justify themselves in order to receive one. (Barriers to accessibility, such as people who question your need for something, are unfortunately nothing new to disabled folks.)