WWW.READMETRO.COM AUGUST 2017
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War on straws boosts global plastic waste 20 struggle Many companies in different countries are set to eradicate or at least reduce the use of straws. Metro investigates whether these actions are enough to tackle the problem of plastic pollution. DANIEL CASILLAS
Metro World News
Thousands of campaigns to stop the usage of straws have emerged around the globe. Dozens of civil organisations and big companies have joined the movement. However, specialists warn these actions are not enough to end the problem of plastic pollution. Some analysts claim that replacing plastic with other materials could bring even more harm to our planet. The worldwide movement against the use of plastic straws began after a 2015 heartbreaking video featuring sea turtle in Costa Rica ‘crying’ as activists attempt to remove the item from its nostril. The dramatic images were seen by more than 32 million YouTube users, and raised awareness worldwide about how damaging the use of straws can be. According to data published by the U.S. organisations, only Americans throw away 500m plastic straws a day, enough to encircle the Earth twice. While the member countries of the EU, according to statistics by the consulting firm Eunomia, are consuming around 23 billion straws a year. In fact, these items appear year after year among the 10 most common things found during beach cleanups. “In the fight against plastic
pollution, single-use straws are a critical starting point to drive meaningful impact and also to raise consumer awareness around ocean health,” Dune Ives, Lonely Whale’s executive director, told to Metro. The Lonely Whale organisation, for example, last year launched ‘Strawless Ocean’ campaign, which aims to raise consumer awareness. Other companies also dedicated to promoting activism against the indiscriminate use the items recognise that the fight against plastic contamination will not be won by attacking the use of straws alone, but see this as a good start. “There is no silver bullet to solving the ocean plastics problem. We all have a role to play,” Nicholas Mallos, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas, stated. “Campaigns like skipping the straw or ban the bag are critical tools for reaching and educating the public on the problem of ocean trash and single-use plastics.” So far, such campaigns had success in making people stop using straws on a daily basis. Big companies as McDonald’s and Starbucks committed to reducing the quantity of items in stores. And even governments in several regions and countries started to promote or approve laws prohibiting their use. The UK government, for
1.6 straws per day uses an average person.
2050
minutes is the average time of the use of a straw.
example, is the year when plastic waste is currently discussing a could outnumber fish in the law to impose a ban straws world oceans if they continue as part of a battle against to be contaminated at the single-use plastics. The Gosame level, according to vernment of Western Austrathe World Economic lia is considering banning this type of utensil, considering Forum. plastic as one of the greatest enemies of the planet. In the U.S., Seattle already prohibited the item, while Washington, D.C. is discussing the possibility of doing the same. However, straws are just a small part of years humanity has all the plastic been using “drinking utensils that cutubes.” rrently pollute the oceans and, according to the Ocean Conservancy, is the seventh of the most widely collected wastes: food wrappers, bottles and plastic bags are the most polluting. Some experts claim that years it could take straws and stirrers have been the campaigns against straws plastic straw to picked up by volunteers from are bad, because alternatives decompose. beaches and waterways over to this type of product are the 30+ year history of the more expensive and even International Coastal produce higher levels of poCleanup. llution. “They’re misguided. The alternatives to single-use plastic straws are much more expensive. Again, manufacturing paper straws creates more pollution than making a plastic minutes is the straw. Single-use straws made average time of the from corn starch or other use of a straw. WORLDWATCH INSTITUTE, OCEAN CONSERVANCY, biodegradable materials are [SOURCES: WEF, INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP] PHOTOS: ISTOCK, CONTRIBUTED, REDVINES.COM significantly more costly than plastic straws,” William F. Shughart II, research director raised international aware- polluting world’s oceans. at The Independent Institute, ness about the issue and “Straw is a gateway plastic explained. could become the beginning representative of our excessiDespite the debate over of a larger fight against single- ve plastic consumption,” Ives usefulness, these movements use plastic products that are concluded.
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9m+
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Alternatives to plastic straws
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Drink straight In many cases it is not really necessary to use a straw to drink. Many can be consumed directly from the container: canned drinks, bottles or glasses.
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Biodegradable straws This type of straw is one of the most viable options for ending the contamination. Around the world, there are several projects that produce plant-based straws, such as bamboo, or even fruits, such as avocado, that are more environmentally friendly and easy degradable.
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Stainless steel Straws made of stainless steel that can be reused in countless occasions are becoming a trend in online stores, because they represent a more eco-friendly option by generating less waste.
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Edible straws Another option is the so-called edible straws, which were recently developed by the American startup Lolistraw. These items are made of seaweed with organic sweeteners and colours derived from fruits and vegetables.
Q&A NICHOLAS MALLOS
director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas
Is plastic pollution a major environmental problem? – Ocean plastic is one of the most visible threats to our ocean, with some eight million metric tons entering the ocean every year impacting more than 800 species of wildlife, from the smallest zooplankton to the largest whales. Scientists are still studying the effects of plastic on the marine food
chain, but we know that in addition to entangling or choking animals, plastics can leach toxic chemicals and transport disease and invasive species. What about the campaigns that encourage people to stop using straws? – Every year straws are among the top ten items collected by volunteers worldwide during Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. These small, lightweight items are difficult to recycle and easily fall out of waste management systems. And while straws make up a small percentage of all the plastic in the ocean (by
weight), when they end up in our seas they can have deadly consequences on marine wildlife. There are medical instances where plastic straws are required, but most of us can and should skip the straw. Are such campaigns really useful? – We all have a role to play. As individuals we can all help by reducing our plastic waste footprint and minimising our use of single-use, disposable products. At the same time, science shows that one of the most impactful things that can be done to prevent ocean plastics is to establish waste
collection and recycling in countries where such systems are lacking. When a pipe is leaking in your house, you need to turn off the tap before you start pumping out water, and it’s the same with ocean plastic. That being said, campaigns like skipping the straw or ban the bag are critical tools for reaching and educating the public on the problem of ocean trash and single-use plastics, and serve as strong signals to corporations that they, too, must find solutions. What other actions are needed to combat plastic pollution?
– We need to rethink our use of singleuse plastics and move toward a circular economy, where plastic items are not only recyclable but made of recycled content. This, of course, will depend on our ability to collect items before they end up in a landfill or – worse – the ocean. Waste collection provides a critical foundation on which circular systems can thrive. Some experts claim banning the use of plastic and replacing it could lead to more waste, water and air pollution. – It is critical to take a big-picture view
of any situation. There may be instances where substituting one product for another may have a different or more severe environmental impact. However, to date, the end-of-life impacts that products have on our ocean have rarely been quantified or factored in to life cycle equations. We know that suitable alternatives exist for many single-use, disposable plastic products that are less harmful to the ocean without compromising functionality or causing other environmental impacts. Every situation is unique, though, and the overall environmental cost-benefit should always be considered.