Skip the straw and save a turtle? Keeping one single straw from making it to the ocean won’t fix the problem, but imagine if everyone said “No straw, please”!
The problem has been highlighted recently by a video of scientists pulling a straw from the nose of an unfortunate sea turtle. The video is hard to watch, but you can view it here: The Story of the Sea Turtle with a Straw in its Nostril.
I’m sure you’ve heard some of the facts on plastics, including plastic straws, and how plastics are impacting our oceans and marine life.
1. Of the 260 million tons of plastic the world produces each year, about 10 percent ends up in the Ocean, according to a Greenpeace report (Plastic Debris in the World’s Oceans, 2006).
2. Research has found that 70 percent of seabirds and 30 percent of sea turtles have some amount of plastic in their systems. (NBC News)
3. As plastic debris floats in the seawater, it absorbs dangerous pollutants like PCBs, DDT and PAH. When animals eat these plastic pieces, the toxins are absorbed into their body and passed up the food chain. (Center for Biological Diversity: Ocean’s Plastic Pollution)
4. Plastic straws and stirrers can take up to 200 years to decompose. (https://4ocean.com/blogs/blog/how-long-does-it-take-trash-to-biodegrade)
5. Americans use 500 million drinking straws every day. (National Park Service – The Be Straw Free Campaign)
What can we do to limit the amount of plastic that makes its way into the ocean? Well, a lot actually. Much of it takes a conscious change in our routine or preferences, but given that plastic can do so much damage to marine life and our oceans in general, it’s really worth making the change.
In an effort to do our little part, we’re asking our readers to consider enjoying your beach beverages without a straw, and if possible, without a plastic cup. Glass containers are usually not allowed on beaches, so plastic cups may be necessary while enjoying the sun and sand, but we can make sure they get into a trash or recycle bin after finishing them. Some establishments are already forgoing the use of straws in an effort to curb the number that end up in the ocean and hopefully more will get on the “no straws” bandwagon soon.
(Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.)
Are you one that just needs (or wants) to use a straw? There are some safer options such as Stainless Steel Metal Drinking Straws, Reusable Silicone Drinking Straws (BPA free), Wheat Stem Straws (gluten free), Biodegradable Paper Straws, and Pasta Straws! We’ll be testing different ocean safe straws out in upcoming cocktail recipes and will let you know which ones work best for us.
In the meantime, won’t you join us in saying, “We’d like our cocktail without a straw, please!”
Cheers to less plastic – and more turtles, in our oceans!
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