On a hot summer day, a paper cigarette holder manufacturer wrapped strips of paper around a pencil, and glued them together to make paper drinking straws, an idea which gained immediate popularity. While Americans were still embracing paper straws, plastic straws came into the picture, quickly becoming cheaper and more durable.

However, it is rightly said, "it was not curiosity that killed the goose who laid the golden egg, but an insatiable greed that devoured common sense".

As a number of large manufacturers met the demands of the society, plastic production went from 1.5 million tons in 1950, to 322 million tons in 2015.

What Now?

The world is now struggling to recover from its plastic pollution hangover. 

Further worsening the problem, this plastic waste, mostly in the form of tiny particles, floats in huge blobs, covering as much as 40 percent of the Earth’s ocean surface, and has also found a way into the marine animals. When plastic does make it into the ocean, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces known as “microplastics” rather than biodegrading or dissolving, which poses great threats to marine life including fish.

It is projected that by 2050, 99% of all seabird species will have ingested plastic, and the mortality rate can be “up to” 50%. In trying to make a convenient life for ourselves, we have injected a ticking time bomb in the lives of millions of harmless animals. 

As an item of convenience for the vast majority of us, we believe refusing the single-use plastic straw is the simplest way for everyone to take action today to address plastic pollution. 

We, the Rotaract Club of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, are an International Social Service Chapter of Rotaract, the youth-oriented branch of Rotary International. We are a group of students who have come together and joined hands for taking action on the nation’s most pressing issues. 

On this note, we hereby present a small list of alternatives to plastic straws (and implied along with it is a humble request to switch to these) :

■ Paper straws
Paper decomposes faster than plastic and so, recycling them is much quicker too. Each straw costs about 1 Re. and is much better for the environment.

■ Compostable straws
These straws are made of Poly-lactic Acid (PLA) plastic, which is made from plant-based renewable sources such as corn starch, etc. Since the plastic is made from plant residue, it is easily degradable and doesn’t harm the environment.

■ Bamboo straws
These straws are reusable and can be bought at a price of Rs. 10 per piece. 

■ Steel straws
Though a bit costly, they work as a one time investment and are much more environment friendly.

■ No straws
Most of the times, there isn’t a need for straws. Most of the drinks can be directly consumed from the container they are served in.

Our suggestion:

Preferably, avoid using straws. Using witty quotes at restaurants and shops to convey no straw policy will help customers understand its importance. If asked for, provide paper or bamboo straws instead.

Swiggy, one of India’s largest food delivery apps, has vowed to provide its restaurant partners in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu with sustainable packaging. Pepsi is considering a pilot project for its industrially compostable packaging in India. Street vendors who used to have small mounds of plastic waste near their shops started switching to reusable materials, paper, and plant fibres to pack and serve food. More specifically, Big Chill, Urban Grill and McDonald's have completely shunned the use of plastic and have switched to paper straws in most of their outlets. 

Taking a cue from these organisations, other MNCs also need to fulfill their responsibilities towards the environment by shunning these toxic single use plastics, including 

1. Burger King 
2. Chaayos
3. Starbucks
4. Cafe Delhi Heights
5. Carl’s Jr.

Every year 100,000 mammals and 1 million sea birds and fishes in millions are killed because of the plastic waste consumed by them. 

There’s no getting around that a paper straw will cost about a penny more than a plastic straw and, for large corporations, that equals hundreds of millions of dollars. But the cost of the marine life? You can’t put a price to that.