I am a straw person.
Water. Soda. Hot coffee. I’d drink soup through a straw if it was socially acceptable.
But my beloved disposable plastic straw came under attack last year for not only polluting the ocean but injuring sea animals. Even though Her Campus DU Campus Correspondent April Vollmer recently pointed out that straws make up a very little percentage of worldwide plastic pollution, public outcry was fierce, and many companies quickly started phasing out plastic straws or only issuing them upon request.
As the well-known straw aficionado, my friends started immediately tagging me underneath ads for the collaspible straw keychain and links to that poor sea turtle.
FinalStraw’s “most badass” straw
But old habits die hard, and I still wasn’t particularly inclined to stop using my plastic straws. Furthermore, as this Muchies reivew pointed out, the plastic straw truly does reign supreme in terms of longevity and mouth feel. (Soggy paper straws = sad).
But then a friend got me a set of reusable straws for Christmas. And I am a (mostly) changed person. I have cut back on my plastic straw usage considerably.
My reusable straws are cute, colorful, and easy to clean. I thought they would be a hassle to carry around, but with a pack of 12, I always have a straw on hand in my backpack. I have even slightly bent one to perfectly fit into my coffee tumbler.
She is beauty, she is grace
I do still ask for straws at restaurants but now more readily accept their nonplastic substitutes. I can celebrate this Earth Day knowing I’m a little more sustainable. Maybe next year I’ll tackle my K-Cup consumption.
Happy Earth Day folks, from your (reusable) straw person.