I Hate Paper Straws
- Thalia Bou Malhab
- Dec 3, 2023
- 2 min read
As an Environmental Engineering major, I've always been passionate about sustainable solutions. My first encounter with paper straws at a local smoothie shop seemed like a step in the right direction against plastic pollution. But as I watched my straw disintegrate in my strawberry banana smoothie, I realized that this was a mere superficial fix to a complex issue.
The problem with paper straws is not just their soggy inconvenience; it's the illusion of significant environmental impact they create. Yes, plastic straws contribute to pollution – Americans use about 50 million daily, and millions end up in our oceans. However, they only make up 0.025% of oceanic plastic waste. The likelihood of encountering one in the vast ocean is minuscule compared to their symbolic presence in the environmental debate.
Corporations have eagerly adopted the paper straw initiative, not out of genuine concern for the environment, but as a low-effort means to project an eco-friendly image. Jim Leape from the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions calls it a “moral license” – a way for companies and consumers to feel good without making significant sacrifices. It's a distraction from more substantial, profit-threatening environmental actions.
Take Starbucks, for example. They've replaced plastic straws with paper ones, yet continue to use plastic cups. Their 2015 pledge to increase reusable cup usage has barely materialized, with only 1.6% of their drinks served in non-disposable cups as of 2023. Similarly, McDonald’s paper straws, non-recyclable themselves, hardly offset the environmental impact of their massive beef consumption and the resultant greenhouse gas emissions. Even SeaWorld, replacing plastic straws to perhaps offset the controversy of their captive orcas, falls into this superficial environmentalism.
The real change requires more than just swapping straws. Companies like Starbucks could innovate biodegradable cups or remove surcharges on sustainable choices like plant-based milk. McDonald’s could expand its plant-based offerings to reduce reliance on beef. As for individuals, especially those of us in the field of environmental studies, we need to advocate for impactful actions and hold these corporations accountable.
While paper straws might alleviate a fraction of the environmental burden, they are far from being a solution. We must look beyond these token gestures towards more substantial actions. We need to embrace the principles of reducing, reusing, recycling, and advocating for meaningful changes. It's time for real solutions, not symbolic ones. And until then, maybe it's okay to ask for our plastic straws back.
I totally agree with you - I always felt the same way when using paper straws. I would rush to finish my drink before the straw getting all soggy and not being able to drink properly. We really do need to take bigger steps if we truly want to help improve our environment. I wish big companies would truly take into consideration the environmental damage that happens instead of worrying about the profits of the company.
I really enjoyed reading your critique of paper straws as a symbolic gesture in environmentalism. You really highlighted the hypocrisy in certain “eco-friendly” solutions we have and how we need REAL solutions for environmental impact. It showcases the performative nature and ignorance we as a society showcase when it comes to being “eco-friendly.”
Bou, I found this post about the symbolic gesture of paper straws in the environmental debate both insightful and thought-provoking. As a Civil Engineering major, I can deeply relate to your perspective on seeking effective and sustainable solutions. Our fields, though different in their specific focus, share a common goal: to create a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly world.
Your critique of the paper straw initiative echoes a larger sentiment in environmental and engineering circles - the need for genuinely impactful solutions rather than superficial ones. Like you, I've learned that real change often requires systemic alterations and innovative thinking, not just surface-level fixes.
Your point about corporations using these initiatives as a 'moral license' really resonated with me. In civil…
I totally agree with the points raised by this article and I totally get the frustration surrounding paper straws. Paper straws are like putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound when it comes to tackling plastic pollution. The stats on plastic straw contribution to ocean waste are eye-opening, and the author's point about companies using paper straws for a "moral license" totally makes sense. Starbucks and McDonald’s switching straws but not really addressing the bigger issues like plastic cups or massive beef consumption is a classic case of greenwashing. It's time for these companies to step up, innovate, and take real action. As environmental advocates, we should push for meaningful change and not settle for token gestures.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article! As a smoothie enjoyer myself, Ive often questioned the benefits behind using paper straws with thick beverages as they never work as well as plastic and only seem to make things more difficult. Your argument exposes the faultiness behind these big corporations— the fact that they only care about "looking good". I thought it was funny to mention SeaWorld, it felt very appropriate for a writer within todays time and age.