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Recent news -

On Monday, February 10, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that encouraged both consumers and the US government to buy plastic straws instead of paper ones.

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Statements -

President Trump said that paper straws break on occasion and even explode. He went on to say that they don't last long and are often gone in a matter of seconds and that it's a "ridiculous situation." 

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Additional thoughts from Trump -

It was also stated by President Trump that he didn't think a shark would be affected very much by plastic "as they're munching their way through the ocean."

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Joe Biden -

Former President Joe Biden had previously proposed environmental measures to help decrease the consumption of single-use plastics that are non-biodegradable. 

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Global treaty -

Former President Biden and his administration back a global treaty that would have put a cap on plastic production. 

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Plastic waste -

If no new controls are introduced then big problems in the environment will occur. In fact, according to OECD (Organization for Economic and Development) research, "Plastic waste that is dumped into the environment is projected to rise from 81 million metric tons in 2020 to 119 million tons in 2040."

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Are paper straws better though? -

Paper straws aren't really better as, according to researchers at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, they were found to contain more "forever chemicals" such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS.

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How long can PFAs stay in the environment? -

PFAS can remain in the environment for decades. They can contaminate water supplies and cause health problems.

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How much plastic waste is produced annually? -

The OECD released information in its Global Plastics Outlook revealing that around 380 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced each year around the globe. Of that, 23 million tonnes find their way into the environment. 

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Ocean -

Estimates show that 1.7 million tonnes of that end up in the ocean on an annual basis. Other studies have said that a more realistic number is between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes. 

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Why are healthy oceans important? -

Climate regulation and the ocean are tied together. The ocean distributes heat from solar radiation, drives weather patterns, and produces half of the oxygen on Earth.

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How? -

The ocean acts as a buffer to climate change and its impact. It absorbs 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions and 90% of excess heat that is generated by its emissions.

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Largest ecosystem -

Additionally, 94% of the wildlife on Earth lives in the ocean, making it the largest ecosystem. 

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People need the ocean -

The livelihood of nearly half of the population globally is dependent on the ocean.  The vast majority are living in developing countries.

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Ocean economies -

Ocean tourism is also a growing industry and includes tourism and fisheries. This economic activity boosts employment, enhances food security, and helps to reduce poverty.

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Single-use plastics -

About 43 million tonnes of waste comes from consumer goods, including single-use plastics from the food and beverage industry. Of that amount, 14 million tonnes, or 3.7 % of total plastic waste, is made of polypropylene, which is also the main material in plastic straws.

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Why the straw? -

The vice president for plastic waste and business at the World Wildlife Fund, Erin Simon, says that the straw became a symbol representing individual choice and the ability to make an impact.

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Is it that simple? -

While it's not as simple as replacing plastic straws to save the environment, everyone must do their part in this global crisis. 

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Press -

Jackie Nuñez, the founder of the Last Straw Campaign, mentioned that she found that even bad press about paper straws meant people were talking about the ever-increasing problem of single-use plastics.

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UN Environment Assembly -

The UN Environment Assembly in 2022 began to negotiate a Global Plastics Treaty with 170 countries. It aimed to address plastic pollution globally and have measures in place to end it by the end of 2024.

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Straws and studies -

A study from Thailand showed that traditional plastic straws made from polypropylene have a lower carbon footprint than bioplastic (polylactic acid) alternatives.

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Greenhouse gases -

The amount of greenhouse gases released during the lifecycle of paper straws has been estimated to be the same as plastic straws or a quarter higher in terms of emissions.

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Can paper straws be recycled? -

Typically, paper straws can't be recycled as they break down too much when they hit liquid. Additionally, a UK government assessment concluded that paper straws emit more greenhouse gases when rotting in landfills compared to plastic.

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Possible alternatives -

Some possible alternatives include metal and glass straws. These are considered safer and have a longer wear and tear.

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Drawbacks -

However, even these aren't without drawbacks. According to one assessment, glass straws are responsible for 44 times as many greenhouse gas emissions when compared to plastic alternatives. Stainless steel straws emit 148 times as much.

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South African study -

A different study done in South Africa found that you'd need to use a glass straw 23-39 times "to neutralize the environmental impact they create when they're made and sold."

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Recently -

Recently, the movement to reduce single-use plastics has focused less on turtles and other wildlife and more so on the negative impact on human health that can occur. Single-use plastics can leach harmful chemicals like BPA, disrupting hormones and increasing cancer risk. Additionally, microplastic ingestion and inhalation may cause inflammation, cardiovascular issues, and even lung damage.

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Final thoughts -

President Trump's executive order has directed federal agencies to halt purchasing paper straws and ensure they're not in government buildings. Additionally, a call for a "National strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws" is to be produced within a certain timeframe.

Sources: (BBC) (Reuters) (NPR) (The Guardian) (Good Start Packaging) (The Humane League) (NRDC)

See also: Cities with the worst air pollution in the world

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