Slurp up these eco plant straws in Saigon!

Are you aware that 500 million plastic straws are being used per day and then… disposed? Yes, you can recycle plastic straws, but many waste management systems are stretched to their limits. Luckily, straws made from plants are available, and you can find them in Saigon!

Introducing: Grass and bamboo straws!

Grass straws are made from stalks that have been hollowed out by a dedicated group in Long An Province. These natural straws are 100% handmade.

Each straw costs 600 VND (about 2.50 USD per 10 straws). You could purchase them here.

If you are a frequent drinker, you might want something reusable. Unlike grass straws, bamboo straws can be used for up to 6 months if washed after each use. Bamboo straws require more handiwork than grass straws, so they cost bit more: 5.50 USD per 10 straws. You could purchase them here.

Why do we care?

Plastic straws are the things we use every day, maybe even many times a day and all of our plastic use adds up:

● Every piece of plastic straw needs 2,000 years to decompose

● Every day, 8 million tons of plastic garbage is being disposed into the ocean

● Every year, 100,000 sea animals die of plastic material consumption because they mistake plastic pieces for food

Recycling doesn’t always work. According to The Guardian, only 14% of the total plastic in the world is being recycled, and the rest lies in oceans or garbage piles. Why is recycling this 86% not possible? Usually, the plastic isn’t easy to collect and sometimes it’s been contaminated.

How are countries facing this?

Foreseeing major human and environmental threats, many countries are considering bans on plastic straw production and use.

According to the BBC, England could soon ban plastic straws and cotton buds to cut down on plastic waste. The Queen, along with 53 prime ministers and presidents, is hosting a summit regarding the matter in the near future.

China is proposing a similar solution to plastic pollution. As stated in Nature’s post, China has issued a ban on recycled plastic imports from developed countries. The ban took effect earlier this year, in January 2018.

And Vietnam?

Sadly, most Vietnamese people have no intention to reduce plastic waste, despite being heavy plastic users. But these bamboo and grass straws are a step in the right direction. And hopefully, these biodegradable products will become mainstream in the near future.

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