If you have to have a straw, make it an earth-friendly one that is made of glass, bamboo or metal. Plastic is so old-fashioned, so just say no!
Did you know that plastic straws cannot be recycled? They end up in landfills or littering our oceans and beaches. Sometimes people collect them and use them in eco-bricks which is at least a step in the right direction.
The core of the issue is that there is a demand for straws and most restaurants and coffee shops don’t know there is an alternative.
The latest trend is to purchase reusable straws made from glass, bamboo and metal. The straws are easily washed and reused. Here are just a few reasons why these types of straws are better:
- Glass doesn’t leak toxins into your beverages
- Glass straws are dishwasher safe making them easy to clean and sterilize
- Glass straws won’t end up in our oceans
- Bamboo straws are 100% biodegradable
- Bamboo straws are chemical free
- Stainless Steel straws are extremely durable
We found a cool glass straw brand that is local. They are called ‘RESTRAW‘.
“Our glass straws are manufactured and branded locally, each one is handcrafted with the utmost care. We have partnered with an incredible company called Upcycle to make our beautiful hemp sleeves. They teach and empower people in various communities to make a living from the resources they have at hand.”
“We use 100% hemp fabric for the sleeves as it is incredibly sustainable, cruelty-free, antibacterial and antifungal. Our packaging is made from recycled and biodegradable material. We have requested that our suppliers stay away from using plastic for any of our products and rather use paper if necessary.”
There are many brands available in South Africa so we encourage you to do the research and find a brand that suits you and your lifestyle. Also whenever you are at a place that promotes plastic straws, requests an eco-friendly alternative from the owner/manager, people will only change if they see there is a demand.
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