Ease Rating: Medium
Carbon Emission Savings: 5 kg CO2e
5 - ~80% target progress (2,000+ kg CO2e)
4 - ~60% (1,000 - 2,000 kg CO2e)
3 - ~20% (500 - 1,000 kg CO2e)
2 - ~10% (100 - 500 kg CO2e)
1 - <10% (<100 kg CO2e)
0 - <1% (<30 kg CO2e)
No. of People Influenced Beyond You: 0.
Amount of Savings: n/a
Impacts: ♻️ Reduce Plastics
Categories: Stuff
Description
Single-use plastics play a much more significant role than many realize. Some of us use up to half our body weight in plastic every year. Then it ends up going on to pollute our land and water for potentially 100s of years.
Billions of plastic straws are used around the world on a daily basis. Though they may seem harmless, they are made from polypropylene, which is a polymer that is made from propylene, a type of fossil fuel. Plus, they are also one of the top 10 contributors to ocean plastic waste worldwide. To make things worse, when you recycle straws, most end up in landfills because typical recycling machines cannot process smaller items like straws.
Reduce your plastic waste by substituting plastic straws for eco-friendly options or by cutting straws out of your plastic diet altogether!
Tips
• Refuse plastic straws. When ordering drinks, request that you are not given a straw. If you are given a plastic straw anyway, you can always give it back.• Still want to use a straw? There are lots of eco-friendly alternatives available. - Steel straws — Rust-proof and chemical-free. - Silicone straws — Great for drinks that are hot or cold. - Bamboo straws — An organic and biodegradable option. - Paper straws — These straws are available at some fast-food establishments and restaurants. However, they are not as sturdy as other plastic straw alternatives and are single-use.