this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2023
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Researchers found low concentrations of so-called forever chemicals in various "eco-friendly" straws, raising doubts about whether they're an appropriate alternative.

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[–] [email protected] 190 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Disposable products are gonna have problems to keep them cheap. The solution to straws is non-dispossble straws, always was.

Also this is still a silly topic, straws won't save the planet.

[–] [email protected] 89 points 1 year ago (16 children)

Or stop using straws all together. Cups/lids can be made differently, so they are more like a sippy cup. You don’t NEED straws. Humans are totally capable of drinking directly from a cup, even without a special lid.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Single use bendy straws were literally invented to help keep bedbound and other disabled people alive.

[–] gonzo0815 31 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Which is the only legitimate use case, but I bet >99% of straws produced aren't used for that.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

And you can buy bent straws in multiple materials, which are not intended to be disposable.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago

No, no straws for anyone, and take away their special ramps too. It's all or nothing because that's the only way my argument works. Color spectrum, exceptions? All I see is black and white.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year ago (4 children)

To be fair, drinks with ice in them are still miles easier to drink with a straw.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (6 children)

No doubt. But something with a smaller hole in it, like the newer Starbucks (I’m sorry I hate using them as an example) cold cups works fine with ice too. Hell, something shaped like the top of a soda can would do it, no more difficult to make than the straw accepting lids, and then no straws.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Those stsrbucks cups are fairly thick, like more than the amount of plastic in a straw thick. Is that really better overall?

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[–] MaybeItWorks 5 points 1 year ago (6 children)

They’re not difficult to make, but they do require more plastic. Probably about the same amount of additional plastic as a straw, really. It’s funny to me when people only consider part of the equation and not the whole thing.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Woah woah woah, will someone please think of the cocaine users?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

People have been using money forever, they’ll be fine.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

That's gross. Paper straws are the way 🤌

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Straws are an accessibility need for some humans, not everyone is actually physically capable of drinking directly from a cup.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (4 children)

That’s fine, they can have their own non disposables for their own needs. We do NOT need to keep polluting the planet (yeah I know there are plenty of other ways we do it) with EVERYTHING being disposable.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Single use bendy straws were literally invented to help keep bedbound and other disabled people alive. There are also many reasons people can't use different alternatives.

You personally not using something, doesn't mean others don't, and to deny access to a literal lifeline for the sake of 0.003% of the plastics in the ocean (literally a drop in an ocean) because it makes you feel better and requires zero effort or sacrifice (from you), instead of actually acting to resolve the problem (like being anti-capitalist rather than just trying to apply band aids to its symptoms) is not only gross and ableist, but also a colossal counterproductive waste of time.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Costco food court lids come to mind. They have a hole near the side where you can either use a straw or drink directly.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My mother is up there in age, every time she drinks from a cup she ends up spilling it on herself. Im not saying she NEEDS straws, but it sure makes it easier on her.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I wouldn't say that nobody ever should use straws, but there are definitely a lot of people who use straws even when it's not necessary, like when they're just sitting in a restaurant eating.

I can agree that having a straw is easier for takeaway eaten on the go or in the car too, for example.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

How are you going to drink bubble tea without a straw?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (7 children)

Same way I already do, tear the plastic “lid” off and dump it down my throat.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I too enjoy gargling little black balls

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I started making my own boba and I got a set of big glass boba straws.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Metal straws have gotten very popular in Taiwan, the home of bubble tea. It's not that inconvenient to take a metal straw or other reusable straw with you.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Totally ignored his last point.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

No but the plastic ones actually did harm the plant.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We really need to change the way that consumers consume things. People need to stop acting entitled to everything they want immediately and with every convenience available.

Maybe people should start travelling around with their own straws. Have a craving for an iced coffee?? Well either bring your own metal/silicone reusable straw or deal with drinking straight from the cup. Be responsible and stop expecting corporations and government to solve every issue and maintain the lifestyle we have had the past few decades.

Things need to change in order for the world to get better, and maintaining the same level of convenience and consumption is unfortunately not something that we can afford.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah nah. Non disposable straws are just going to become disposable straws that take up more material and are more expensive. Just like the "reusable" plastic bags they use at the grocery store now.

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