Straws That Don’t Suck: The Alternatives to Plastic Don’t Stop at Paper

Our world has a plastic problem, and America’s relationship with single-use plastics is one part of it. Walk down any city or suburban street in the summer and you’re likely to see someone drinking an iced coffee through a straw. Go to any movie theater and you’ll see folks headed to their seats with giant sodas and slushies — and odds are they won’t be drinking them straight from the cup. 
Straws have become shorthand for the deleterious impact single-use plastics have on our planet’s ecosystems, and for good reason. In the United States alone, between 170 million and 390 million straws are used each and discarded each day, adding to the 8 million tons of plastic that end up in our oceans every year. These straws are then consumed by marine life and can end up in the bellies of fish, nostrils of sea turtles and jammed in the throats of birds, causing them extreme pain and in many cases killing them. 
Rising to the call to make our planet a better place for everything living in it, communities and countries are banning straws along with other single-use plastic, like plastic bags and utensils. Conservationists hope that straws will be a “gateway plastic” that leads to important conversations about our country’s reliance on single-use plastic. So while you’re ditching the straw, try to ditch the single-use coffee cups and plastic water bottles while you’re at it. 
But as we have a conversation about straws, It’s important to note that they’re not only a preferred way of enjoying a beverage — for some, they can be essential to participation in public life. Many people with disabilities rely on straws to drink and eat outside of their homes, and banning straws without providing alternatives that actually work would push them further into the margins of society.  

A boy drinks from a glass with a paper straw, one of the most popular eco-friendly alternatives to plastic straws.

As we continue to innovate for the perfect solution that both minimizes our impact on the planet and meets the needs of people with disabilities who rely on them, here are some sustainable options for the sustainability-minded to consider:

1. Glass

Glass might be your best option when it comes to eco-friendly sipping devices. A glass straw is reusable and recyclable. A majority of glass straws are made of shatter-resistant borosilicate, so if you’re clumsy, you can drop away. Unlike paper and metal straws, glass straws don’t change the taste of your drink. So try one out from here or here.

2. Agave 

Agave, a plant typically harvested for its sweet nectar, is becoming a staple in bioplastics, which are plastic-like materials made from organic compounds. The result? A straw that closely resembles our society’s beloved plastic straw, but is, thankfully, both biodegradable and affordable. And since many of these bioplastic companies are using waste to create the bioplastics, it’s a win-win for the eco-conscious consumer on a budget. Stores looking to buy in bulk can get straws from Bio Agave or individuals can find agave straws on Etsy here.

pasta straw
Noodle straws have become a fun, affordable option to sip coffee or slurp boba from.

3. Dry Noodles

This might seem silly, but noodles are no longer just a vessel for marinara or soy sauce. Instead, companies are using dry noodles to transport liquids from your glass to your mouth. And there are a few reasons to be excited about it. First, noodles are biodegradable. They’re also affordable and surprisingly sturdy if you can get past how … uncanny it might be. Check it out here

4. Paper

Paper straws are the most common replacement for single-use plastic straws. You’ll find them at coffee shops and restaurants touting a more environmentally-friendly option. Paper staws are a cheap, biodegradable solution. However, they quickly break down in a liquid, which can be frustrating for a slow drinker. You can also find paper straws at a variety of places, and even stores like Target and Walmart carry paper straws.

Seaweed straws
People are now growing seaweed for straws. Seaweed straws have a plastic-y texture and biodegrade quickly.

5. Seaweed

Seaweed is an easy, carbon-sucking plant when grown, so it makes sense to grow it for straws. The seaweed straws have a similar texture to plastic, but due to its compostable nature, it won’t survive in the ocean for centuries. Instead, they quickly biodegrade into food for marine animals. You can find seaweed straws here.

6. Bamboo

Bamboo straws are another popular replacement. It serves as the middleman between a single-use and a forever-use item. Bamboo straws are durable, but they probably won’t last you a lifetime, unlike a metal or glass straw. When it’s run its lifetime, the straws will decompose. Find a single bamboo straw here for only $2 or a set of six for $10.50 here.
Embed: Two children drink smoothies from a reusable metal straw, one of the most popular replacements for plastic straws. Photo by Viara Mileva/Getty Images

metal straws
Two children drink smoothies from reusable metal straws, which is one of the most popular replacements for plastic straws.

7. Metal

Metal might be the most common reusable straw you see. That’s because it’s easy to clean and compact enough to carry in a purse or backpack. However, keep in mind metal straws transfer heat easily, so beware of drinking your hot coffee out of one. Give them a shot and purchase four straws for $4.50 here.

8. Straw

Pun intended. Some companies have turned back to the straw’s origins. In the 1800s people used grain stalks, like straw or hay, to function as straws. So why not go back? Straw straws are cheap and biodegradable. You can find a pack of 100 straws for $7 here

silicone straw
A family drinks smoothies from their reusable silicone straws.

9. Silicone

If you don’t want to give up the plastic-y feel, a silicone straw is your best bet. They’re perfect for your favorite boba or smoothie drink, and most are dishwasher safe. They’ll last you years, preventing hundreds of single-use straws ending up in the ocean or landfill. Silicone straws can be bought from many chain stores or online here.

10. Skip the Straw

The cheapest and most sustainable option on this list is to skip the straw altogether. Although some folks rely on straws due to disabilities, a majority of us don’t need a straw. So the next time you’re out at happy hour or sitting down for dinner, simply ask for no straw.
More: 37 Ways to Shrink Your Use of Plastic

The Reason Why Businesses Should Hire Employees With Disabilities

Finding a job is difficult for the average person. Add a disability into the mix, and the odds seem impossible, especially since there’s the stereotype that hiring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) will be a detriment to business.
All that could change, however, thanks to a recent study showing that employees with IDD aren’t just charity cases and that they contribute positively to both the work environment and the bottom line.
The study was conducted by the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp), an organization which examines high performance organizations. According to the report, hiring people with IDD “adds highly motivated people to the workforce (which can lead to increased productivity) and it promotes an inclusive culture that appeals to the talent pool organizations want to attract.” All of this translates into a better community image and an increase in profits.
Of the employers surveyed, three-quarters gave their employees with IDD ratings of “good” or “very good” in the areas of work quality, motivation, engagement, integration with co-workers, dependability and attendance. Adding to that, 80 percent reported positive experiences and one-third reported having their expectations exceeded.
The Institute’s study confirms what organizations that work with individuals with IDD have been saying for years, like Best Buddies International, a nonprofit that has been working to find equal employment and opportunity for those with disabilities since its inception in 1989.
In response to the study’s release, Best Buddies started a media campaign entitled “I’m In To Hire” highlighting the positives that come along with hiring those with disabilities. As of October 24, the website had 100,000 pledges of support.
Anthony K. Shriver is the Founder and Chairman of Best Buddies and remarks how individuals with IDDs can transform the workplace.
“They’ve hired an effective and enthusiastic employee, and now have lower turnover in those jobs,” Shriver tells The Daily Beast. “The culture of our schools have changed since we began inclusion of people with IDD. Our offices can transform as well.
Pathways to Careers is another organization working with individuals with IDD. Rather than focusing on the disabilities, Pathways markets the individual and matches the skillset with the job.
Considering 85 percent of people with IDD don’t have paid work, both the report and programs such as these has the potential to inspire change.
Bottom line: These workers have much more going for them than the disability that constrains them.
MORE: The Yelp-Like Website Helping Migrant Workers Avoid Bad Bosses