You read that right. People are now choosing pasta straws over plastic straws. It’s peculiar isn’t it? We are all for peculiar things here at UPS Battery Center.
We have mentioned the necessity of replacing plastic straws with more sustainable ones in several of our plastic reducing posts. However, when we heard about Pasta straws, we had to give them their own post!
So, Why Pasta?
Here’s the story, over the past few weeks, many restaurants have shared that they have replaced the conventional plastic drinking straws with pasta ones! Two of those restaurants have been in Bristol, U.K and Malibu, U.S. The customers claim that these straws do not affect the taste of their drinks and actually make their experience cooler!
The Bristol Story: Brace and Browns is the restaurant that initially made us aware of the pasta straws! They started using them as a means of reducing their plastic and have found them to be the most effective.
The Malibu Story: As of June 1st, 2018, Malibu’s ban on plastic straws will take effect and restaurants such as the Beach Café have already starting implementing the pasta straws as alternatives.
Watch this video on Malibu’s plastic ban:
Why You Should Make the Switch Too:
- Everyday plastic straws are used in America daily. These straws find their way into our oceans, leading to devastating consequences on sea life and our environment. Research predicts that plastic straws are on track to outnumber fish in the ocean by 2050.
- An estimated 8.5 billion plastic straws are used every year in the UK, potentially contributing to the over 150 million tonnes of plastic in the world’s oceans.
- $2.69 CAD gives you a pack of 500kg of Pasta Straws!
- Wheat is an all-natural and compostable ingredient, so the straws won’t damage the environment. You can even find gluten-free ones!
- They are practical if you are inviting lots of friends over for cocktails.
We’re not telling you to only stick to pasta straws but to give them a try!
Tips for Restaurants:
Well, when going to restaurants, always bring your own reusable straw and always ask for no straw! However, on the restaurant’s part, you should consider table signs reading, “We are an eco-friendly restaurant, therefore plastic straws will only be available upon request” and trying to provide alternative methods!
Thanks for reading! What type of sustainable straws are your favourite alternatives? Let us know in the comments below!
Related:
Three Ways of Avoiding Plastic