There are tons of different alternatives to plastic straws – it all depends on what you are looking for. Do you need single-use or do you need multi-use. With plastic polluting our waterways and oceans (and the fact that we are beginning to see plastic in our rainfall), it’s no wonder so many people are in the market for a more sustainable and green solution.
Multi-Use Straws
Multi-use straws are good for those who like to reuse their straws while simultaneously creating more dishes for themselves. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, I personally am not a fan of having to do additional dishes. But I digress!
Some multi-use options include:
- Glass straws
- Metal straws
- Silicone straws and
- Bamboo
Multi-use straws have many pros and some cons. Some of the good things about them is that you don’t have to keep purchasing them over and over again. Glass is good because it doesn’t make your drink taste funny, however, they are easier to break and are an unfortunate conductor of heat.
Metal straws, like glass straws, are also a conductor of heat – so you may want to rethink using a metal straw for that hot double-whipped chai tea latte.
Next on our list are silicone straws. They do not change to the temperature of your drink, they don’t leave a funny aftertaste, and you can cut them into a size that works best for you. The problem is that they are only slightly better than plastic straws. They will still sit in a landfill for yeeeaaarrrsss without really decomposing.
Last on this list, but certainly not least, are bamboo straws. They look cool, their temperature isn’t affected by hot or cold drinks, they are customizable AND biodegradable. They won’t last a whole lifetime, but one to two years (depending on the usage) is still a good way to get your money’s worth out of ‘em.
Single-Use Straws
Single-use straws are becoming more and more popular (especially since the outbreak of Covid-19). You use them once and you can toss them out without fear of damaging the environment. Some single-use straw options include:
- Paper straws
- Pasta straws
- Wheat/Grass straws
Paper straws are cheap, but they can be a struggle. Oftentimes they become soggy before you’ve finished your drink.
Pasta straws are making their way into the limelight. Completely biodegradable, the only downside that we could find is that they don’t work well in hot drinks… unless you want a noodle floating in your hot cocoa.
100% natural, wheat straws are made from the stem of a plant and are completely biodegradable. Durability can be an issue though. They have a tendency to rip or tear making it difficult for people to get excited about them.
And the Winner is….
After much thought and deliberation, we have come to the conclusion that the winner of the bestest most sustainablest straw currently available in the market is!!!!! (drumroll)
The bamboo straw. With its sleek design, biodegradability and the fact that it is all-natural, it’s no wonder we’ve chosen this as the best available for use! Well, maybe not for restaurants.. but for home? Yes please! You are welcome!
About AQUASANI in The Ozarks.
AQUASANI is an authorized dealer for Rainsoft, WaterLogic, & JavaSmart. Based in Springfield, Mo., and at Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Beach in Missouri, AQUASANI services areas in the Ozarks including Osage Beach, Camdenton, Aurora, and even Jefferson City. In essence, we service Mid-Missouri, Southwest Missouri, and Northwest Arkansas, and have been servicing these areas since 2004. We provide home water softener systems, drinking water filtration systems, whole-house air purification systems, problem-solving water filtration systems for homes and offices, and we also offer a coffee service to businesses in these above-mentioned areas as well.
Aside from our purification systems, we also sell all-natural cleaning products and household items which are environmentally friendly and low-cost.
The coffee service business is simple: an office purchases coffee from us, and we provide the coffee maker/dispenser (including Keurig coffee makers), deliver the coffee to the office as often as needed, and we even clean the coffee makers monthly.
We specialize in water filtration and purification for both commercial businesses and residential homes. If that isn’t enough, we provide free trials for our coffee and water cooler services. If you would like a free estimate, schedule an appointment with us by calling (417) 881-4000 or fill out the form below and one of our AQUASANI teammates will sort you out!
