Why plastic straw bans aren’t the answer.
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2024
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In this Our Changing Climate environmental video essay, I look at the controversy and debate behind plastic straw bans. Specifically, I look at the minimal impact of plastic straws on ocean trash compared to other forms of garbage. The video also discusses how plastic straw bans are a form of eco-ableism in that eliminating plastic straws make the lives of people with disabilities much more complicated. As a result of the eco-ableism inherent in plastic straw bans, ridding whole cities of plastic straws could prove problematic.
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Resources:
1. Eco-Ableism: What It Is, Why It Matters and How It Affects Disabled People (Eco Warrior Princess): ecowarriorprincess.net/2018/0...
2. The Last Straw: Ableism in Environmental Campaigns (Marlee Townsend via UAB Institute for Human Rights): cas.uab.edu/humanrights/2018/...
3. I rely on plastic straws and baby wipes. I’m disabled - I have no choice (Penny Pepper via The Guardian): www.theguardian.com/commentis...
4. The Amazing History and the Strange Invention of the Bendy Straw (The Atlantic): www.theatlantic.com/business/...
5. Bone and Metal Straw-tip Beer-strainers from the Ancient Near East (Maeir & Garfinkel): www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...
6. Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic (Lebreton et al.): www.nature.com/articles/s4159...
7. Science Says: Amount of straws, plastic pollution is huge (Phys.org): phys.org/news/2018-04-science...
8. Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean (Jambeck et al.): science.sciencemag.org/conten...
9. A brief history of how plastic straws took over the world (National Geographic): www.nationalgeographic.com/en...
10. Ocean Conservancy 2018 Clean-Up Report (Ocean Conservancy): oceanconservancy.org/wp-conte...
11. Hell on Wheel's Infographic (via Rambling Justice): ramblingjustice.files.wordpre...
12. Innovative efforts tackle ghost fishing nets and bring value to waste (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations): www.fao.org/in-action/globefis...
What are your thoughts on straw bans? Are you for or against them?
I think everybody should Google Andrew Yang
I am not against them or with them. I just drink straight from the cup 😄
Our Changing Climate I’m okay with stores having alternatives when there’s a good replacement. But I think it’s a bit crazy to focus on such a small problem, and put a legal ban for it.
I would argue that the straw ban will create more people that are against environmental movements than it will win in effectiveness.
I’m for them, mainly because of the oil needed to produce them.
I mean less plastic
I think that instead of outright bans, there should be a change of policy on the commercial-specifically the restaurant-level. Restaurants should still be able to provide straws for those that need or desire it, but drinks should automatically come without. People would have to ask for a straw specifically. The majority of people won't notice the difference, and usage will drastically decrease, while freedom of choice is fully maintained.
Mattie Engwall y u so smart
We’ve got a level 10 genius in the facility
I’d just like to add that, on top of that, if you ask they should ask you what sort of straw (re-usable, bio-degradable, plastic etc.) you would like, so someone who is fine using non-plastic straws, but who would still like a straw, can use them.
I like this idea, but also fear that people with disabilities who ask for plastic straws would be judged by serving staff/other customers, and then spend their evening feeling uncomfortable.
I'm from San Francisco and that's what they're doing, restaurants and cafes have straws, but you need to ask for them if you want one.
I thought banning straws was the start of something, start small and slowly increase bans/taxes on other plastic items. But nope, just do the barest minimum while pissing everyone off and call it saving the environment.
That's the same thing i've been seeing as well. I too thought it was the beginning of a larger shift. Nah. It's like, someone with decision making power saw a video of a sea turtle with a straw up it's nose and thought all sea life was snorting straws. No broader examination... just the weak ban with no greater impact outside of annoying consumers.
Yeah same. I realized it when companies only left it at straws or substituting straws to sip-able lids.
Exactly! Straws are such a small part of the problem. Why ban straws but not talk about all of the other single use plastics that are a problem?
No place should ban straws cuz what about the disabled? They should exclusively give plastic straws to them. Our real problem is low hanging fruit
m i n i m a l if the disabled could afford it, they could purchase a reusable straw, free of their allergies.
“Let’s ban plastic straws but continue to use to go plastic cups, lids and sleeves” - California.
I live and work in Cali at a German restaurant where we servers hand out hay straws for use while paper and plastic straws tend to be as last resort.
At the same time hopefully we
can combat plastic waste by converting it into jet fuel as mentioned in one of ColdFusions latests uploads.
But that’s neither here nor there. Toodaloo!
Agreed. However, baby steps is necessary. If humanity can do it now and adjust minimally, the next generation will accept these product changes without concerns or hesitation
If I remember correctly Europa isn t only going to ban straw but many single use plastics, like plastic plates and cups.
Besides that straws specific shape has in some circumstances negative effect, like the turtle that had a straw in its nostrils.
Abyssinia Empire Lets get rid of the pedo’s in DC 1st then we can worry about our planet. Children are our future & must be protected 1st!
Abyssinia Empire In 2000 They also said California was going to be underwater in 2010 meanwhile politicians were buying beach front property🤣🤣🤣🤣STOP using our kids for you POLITICAL AGENDA!!!
Hay straws sound like a huge hazard for allergies. I’m very allergic to hay, I think that’s a lot worse than trying paper straws
i don’t think the plastic straw ban intended to be so exclusive. companies shouldn’t just ban straws, they should review other forms of waste. however since it became a “trend” its so easy for companies to just follow suit and make themselves look “green” without putting in more effort.
Now McDonald's is swapping to fibre straws and cutlery. But still still throwing all the cups and lids and burger boxes away. And the fibre stuff is still rubbish. Except it will dissolve in water. But otherwise it's still landfill....
I disagree. I say learn to drink without one. That’s what immune systems are for.
Being paralyzed from a motorcycle accident I completely agree with the spoon analogy! At first I could only sit up for an hour a day before the pain set in, and after 10 years I've built up my "spoon" collection so I can do more, live on my own and even drive again. What able bodied people don't understand about disabled people is huge!
Straw bans are scapegoats backed by companies and governments to stop them having to make real change. "All political movements in theit current form have failed" -Thunberg
Don't forget the plastic straws aren't just wasteful, they tend to get stuck in the mouths and noses of sea life. Straws are step one, and at least it's bringing awareness to the larger problem of plastic.
Why ban straws meanwhile there's a lot more bigger waste to care of?
Low hanging fruit.
He literally explained that in the video.
@@Tom-bb5kh I think Fau was referring to the basic contradiction in the ideas of the mainstream about how to manage waste material. I see no problem there :/
Oil and fossil fuel lobby.
Why not? It doesnt hurt even if it is fake ecoconciousness
While I agree with most of this, you ignore a large part of why people want a straw ban: the shape is particularly likely to harm oceanic animals. That being said, it's still a small proportion.
I didn't even think about this! Would the issue of the straw's shape be solved if you cut it with scissors along the length of the straw?
That is really interesting to hear. Would love you to elaborate if you have any specifics.
Plastic bags are generally worse, and any plastic breaks down into microplastic and ends up eaten anyway. Everyone saw that one video of the sea turtle with a straw up its nose and cringed, I think is where this idea came from. There are lots more photos/videos of animals caught in six pack rings and fishing nets, though.
@Kath Beck eyy keep doing you man, don't listen to naysayers. Everyone should contribute their change accordingly not excessively
The three points that are important to make here are that one, municipalities (or even most states or provinces) cannot meaningfully ban waste from fishing equipment. When one says "our energy is better spent on x" one must consider whether x is equally achieveable by everyone. Yes, we should put energy into those programs, but moving towards banning single use (not just straws) plastics is a step that our city and provincial governments can take and that may be the most meaningful thing that they can do that is within their jurisdiction.
The other thing is I'm fully in support of ensuring these policies accomodate all people. Calling it a "straw ban" is an easy convenience because it's well branded, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a ban, I believe it is possible to craft a policy such that single use plastics are reduced and limited, but that those who do need them, can still have access to them.
Third, it is very very hard to tell the difference between someone is legitimately arguing for their (or others) needs to be met, and those who are simply using disability rights as an excuse to oppose a policy they simply don't like. I would hope those who really feel their needs are being threatened would seek to ensure the policies are crafted to meet their needs, even as those policies reduce single use plastics like straws. I admit this may be difficult given the branding of these policies as "straw bans", and especially since disabled rights advocates are already fighting many battles. But sometimes it does become apparent after some proding that a person doesn't really care if the needs of disabled people are being met, and are really just concerned with opposing environmental policy. That I find very frustrating.
What really bugs me is when fully able bodied people say "I need a plastic straw because there are people with disabilities." You not wanting to drink out of a cup and someone who cannot drink without a plastic straw ARE NOT THE SAME THING. Special accomadations are for special circumstances, not the general population.
Besides, I have multiple debilitating disorders, and I use a metal straw. There is NO excuse. I know that glass straw can hurt someone. I know that some people can't use bamboo straws because they're allergic to wood. But who is allergic to SURGICAL STEEL and of the like lol
@@yms4355 You might be surprised how many disabled people have allergies like that. And Simply because it's not an issue for you to use a metal straw, doesn't mean it's not an issue for someone else. People who can't readjust their head or need to drink sitting/lying down still can't use non-bendable straws. And there's still an injury risk, esp for people who have seizures or other issues where they could very, very easily hurt themselves with the metal straw if they have one while drinking. What works for one disabled person doesn't work for all disabled people.
He’s talking about himself, he never said he represents the entire disabled community. I swear, YT comments are the worst because of people like you.
YM S Well, its not only being allergic but if you need to position the straw (bending it) you eliminate a lot of options, including surgical steel (btw, you CAN be allergic to that as well). Jessica Kellgren-Fozard has a great video explaining it, but even just looking at the spread provided in this video, you would see why poseable plastic straws are hard to replace. It's certainly great that you are able to use a metal straw, everything counts, just don't talk down to people who aren’t.
@Emmy Daniella Ma So ASD, EDS, POTS and a few others are not actual disorders in your country? Huh, how weird. -.-
I am a med student and I've spent quite some time in hospitals. Some patient depend on straws to be able to drink, and it's not just disabled people. I hope that they will not disappear completely
I have sensitive teeth, and straws help deliver my drink directly to my taste buds without shocking my teeth with freezing cold. I also enjoy not having to lift and tilt the glass or cup. Plus, I tend to chew on my straws. I literally will break (chip) my teeth if I have to use metal straws; as it is, I’ve had to replace silicone straws before due to teeth holes from repetitive chewing motions.
Please, let me have my soft and flexible plastic straws. I’ve nearly completely given up plastic one-use bottles (water AND soda!) in favor of good reusable water bottles with silicone mouthpieces, but please, let me just have straws in restaurants or when I want to treat myself at home. Straws aren’t the enemy, they are the pinky toenail of your nemesis. Try a headshot?
Thank you for making this video! Even though I personally do my best to avoid plastic straws as well as single use plastic in general, I work with individuals with disabilities for a living, and I know how much some people rely on straws to drink without spilling it. I also know that individuals with disabilities are going to be more adversely affected by the impacts of climate change the more it progresses, whether by heat or flooding, etc. I'm trying to find the right way to talk about these issues without making them feel more responsible for their use of things like straws and also give them an opportunity to make the changes that they can make.
There is a company called Mabuhay in the Philippines, with a US subsidiary that makes straws out of rice fiber that dissolves in water. They work well for single use. I bought some to see how it works. Overnight it softened up pretty good in a sink of water, the next day it was dissolved. Sounds like a solution to me!
Climate strike and Area 51 Raid all in one day?
This is gonna be a good one
PenguPoop I was thinking the same thing, but the climate guys should move their date cuz the raid Area 51 dude was there first
@@sd8313 It's actually exactly the opposite of that. The climate strike was planned far before the Area 51 thing.
Michelle Shilling seriously, I only heard about it first in early July
Not addressing the real problem here!
Poor countries that don't have the real estate or financial ability to properly dispose, dump waste into the ocean. My straw and other plastic things ends up in a landfill.
Dragon Skunk Studio that’s actually not entirely true. Most western countries ship their trash to Asian countries bc it’s way less expensive to deal with trash there than it is to dispose the waste the correct way
So, what you mean by that is, what he said is true.
Say they do properly dispose it. All that will happen is it is burned in an incineration plant. This will release Co2 and still harm the environment. The best way is to recycle it.
Anonymous thanks, bamboo and paper straws will produce methane when they decompose, which is a more potent greenhouse than co2. Everything we do as a society will produce co2 or greenhouse. We have go after the biggest polluters first, because those will make a bigger difference.
@@haha20042003 I just heard about banning paper flyers and ads delivered to all homes. Now THAT is a real impact that will make a difference. I get tons of ads in my mailbox so much waste.
Stores serving cold drinks with a whole plastic cup and a paper straw in San Francisco. This is ridiculous.
It seems to me that a compromise can be easily reached by only giving away straws (and not necessarily single use straws) to disabled people, much like other accessibility measures like parking spots, ramps and toilets are available. I mean every restaurant and café already has straws so it wouldn't even be at a cost for them.
Honestly the only conclusion I can draw from the fact that straws account for such little plastic waste is that it's not only straws that should be banned, but every single use utensil or container. With the exception of the people who need them, of course, but then again why do they need to be single use then?
Jessica Kellgren Frozard has a great video on why reusable alternatives aren't always a good option: ruclips.net/video/3XGIxUXDWqw/видео.html !
Unfortunately the solution of restaurants only giving straws out to disabled people creates a situation in which people who have invisible disabilities often are not given what they need because the server decides they aren't disabled. That is not right. Yes, Jessica made a great video on how straw bans affect disabled people. I recommend it.
@@HeartbloomHalfling i hear that, and it might be a good precaution to set everything up so that straws or other utensils can be handed out on request. even if some people end up abusing this rule by lying, many less straws will defenitely make their way to landfills and bodies of water. again a relatively easy implementation in terms of material and legistlation.
It'd be best if straws were just given out to whoever asks for them, without needing to show their disability card (is that a thing in other places?). People could also need one cause they just had dental surgery or something. Or maybe they simply just want one for the fun of it. So be it, at least they're appreciating it instead of just getting it thrown and them without even wanting one.
@@HeartbloomHalfling Exactly this. Think of how many people get attacked for parking in an accessible spot because they don't "look" disabled.
If it were just done the same way "for here or to go?" is done, that would be better because then it wouldn't be some great challenge about it. "For here or to go" should be more common at coffee shops anyway - think of how many people are in Starbucks drinking from disposables when they are sitting at the table working or whatever. Those folks could have used reuseable mugs, but Starbucks runs on the assumption that everyone needs a to go cup. That would make a lot less waste than a straw ban!
if you want to make a personal change for the ocean, the best thing you can do at this point in time is to restrict drastically or outright stop fish consumption. like he said in the video, the pacific ocean patch is ~46% fishing-related garbage. And not only that. fishing nets tend to be one of the most harmful kinds of trash because animals get stuck in them all the time. not to mention all the fish getting killed as bycatch (and no, those labels saying no dolphins were harmed in the product are not really reliable.).
.
A really great way to help is also to try to get politicians to care and to try to get some policy changes. though one has to be critical of some of the proposals that are meant to lessen the impact of the fishing industry. Behind the grate-sounding names like "sustainable fishing" there are often still serious problems to discuss further.
Plastic straws available from pharmacies, only for disabled people who needs them, for a good price and in large quantities sounds like a quite simple way to get around the ban.
Exactly. There's a lot of lazy people in this comment section trying to use the disabled people as a reason for them to get to keep polluting for no reason.
That just puts more of a burden on disabled people who already have a very high burden and very low income.
@@tiadeets so if the price stays constant to the average price of plastic straws now and every pharmacy has boxes of 1000 straws for example..
You mean the burden of getting through the day is in this case bigger in any way? Maybe the price can be lowered or taken over completely by health insurance companies or the government has manufacturing companies for those straws and delivers them to all pharmacies for free, but only for people who have a reason to get them..
It's not that difficult to imagine dozens of ways for better handling of our business in regards to the future and the nature/the environment. To do better is work though and work will not be done by politicians who could avoid it.
Awww yes let’s focus on the tiny amount of waste generated by straws in the west. When mean while China and India have massive amounts of waste draining into the ocean from their major rivers. How about we focus on that? No that requires calling evil out.
How about bio degradable ones that wont melt and made of different materials in case someone is allergic?
Let's not forget that the UK McDonald's got rid of their plastic straws and introduced paper straws only to find out that it's too hard to even recycle properly LOL What a joke🙄
You can compost a paper straw which should take less energy and water to recycle
@@Cherry_amphetamines I cant remember the last time I saw a compost heap in MCD's 😂
It’s biodegradable.
*PAPER STRAWS MELT (or decinigrate) BEFORE YOU FINISH YOUR DRINK*
*PAPER STRAWS ARE TOO SMALL TO RECYCLE SO THEY GET TRASHED*
i really love your videos. they're so educational, but so aesthetically pleasing at the same time. thank you.
No ads. I love it. Except the one at the end
Why spoons? Why not points?
I dont get it.
Yes, the point could have been made more quickly and clearly without the spoon digression.
@Dr Ergot: The spoons metaphor is one that was made by people in the disability community about their own experience, so using that metaphor is in part a way of giving voice to those who often have no voice.
@Unconventional Wisdom: I think the choice of spoons has its roots in some internet reference or other, if I remember right, and is in part meant to have an air of whimsy that makes it both memorable and light when a lot of the difficulties folks face regularly can be pretty heavy.
I think the first time this was explained to someone was in a cafeteria at school, and the spoons were used to explain the concept.
The original article is here butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ basically she was trying to explain to a friend what it's like to be disabled, what she had on hand was spoons so she used the metaphor of each thing you do to get ready in the morning will take away one of these spoons.
@@black_forest_ i agree it would probably be a more accurate metaphor to say able bodied people have so many spoons they rarely notice how many they use unless they are doing something extraordinary (Or when they get sick and therefore have fewer spoons)
This summer, when I was on beach I ordered lemonade. And I got it... in PLASTIC cup with CARDBOARD straw. Cup was folding in every direction and not comfortable to hold while straw was basically too weak and was destroyed by water. "Smart ecological business"
Thank you for bringing up how bad fishing nets and their plastic waste are. It seems that the fishing industry has been trying to silence this fact, something explored by Mic the Vegan on YT and the new Netflix documentary Seaspiracy.
We should be focusing our efforts there! And Seattle being in Oregon is closest to the coast that has seen some of the biggest booms in the industry over the past 50-60 years (salmon, crab, deep sea trawling in the Bering Sea). I would say that I'd expect a public misfire in the form of these straw bans when the economy/politicians are so heavily reliant on the industry. It's been a large part of Oregon's way of life for decades.
Gunna need young people to take the helm, for sure, in changing that lifestyle and culture.
I 100% agree with the banning or management of fishing nets. Particularly in the US and other major fishing countries. Ultimately the goal should be to have more fish than plastic...
I agree this the first time I heard that 46% is from fishing nets and the like. i don't understand why it is the first time it has been said we need to adress the issue but at the same time we can't just cut out the bulk of the fishing industry contrabutions and pat ourselves on the back.
or just outright ban commercial fishing.
When I was at Six Flags in California, you couldn't even get the re-useable cup straw that is usually acquired with it at purchase... you had to ask for it specifically
Can anyone tell me which video editing software is probably used for this video? Thank you!
Thank you so much for talking about eco-ableism.
All restrictions are discriminatory to some people. For example, coal power is cheaper than biomass. By switching to the latter you make power more expensive which disproportionately affects the poorer people.
Most places i know in Switzerland use biodegradable corn starch straws
Thing is, Switzerland is R I C H
Those melt in hot water and cost more
Jude Furr Don’t drink hot stuff with a straw?
@chase I’m pretty sure if they have hot water they have a cup.
@chase If the place your getting hot water doesn’t have a cup what’s the point of a straw?
Yesss!!!!! I've been waiting for this video
Love your animations! Which software do you use?
6:42 That's the exact same thing with cars. Some activists want to forbit all (fuel and electric) cars. That can't be a solution, if we don't have good alternatives.
Which activists? I've literally never heard someone argue for that. In the Netherlands, which is extremely anti-car, they even provide microcars which are allowed to be driven on bicycle paths, specifically for people with disabilities. Meanwhile roads/streets still exist, and are no more congested because the able-bodied majority mostly bicycle or walk, freeing up space for those who cannot. Even if there were congestion, people with disability parking permits ought to be allowed to use bus lanes.
It's a knee jerk reaction to a turtle video.
What fonts do you use? I love the video!
An incredible essay as usual!
Wow this video totally changed my mind on the plastic straw ban. Thank you so much for making this video, its super valuable.
Great vid, great channel, but would really love it if you did a video on waste to energy
I'm glad this video exists. Thank you!
Great video! Really gives the ocean cleanup (and the environment issue) a perspective on impactfullness and effectiveness of actions.
You could have explained the term eco-albeism better however, because I didn't understand it until literally the end of the video. A definition of such terms when they're introduced helps give more context to the information and makes it more understandable.
Nevertheless, carry on!
Hey there! Great video as usual, but I have a question: What can us average people (without big economic or political influence) do that makes an actual change? Obviously banning plastic straws, buying waste-free groceries or 'talking about it' doesn't do enough since the environment is only getting worse by the minute, so; what do we do?
No pig and cow meat,
Not much car,
Not much plane rides
And no plastic packacegs
Fight for political and system change, and making the best choices for you in your daily life :)
Hey! Easy, you can eliminate fish from your diet. If you stop purchasing fish, you then stop paying for the trash to be put in the ocean. Vote with your dollar. I haven't eaten fish in over 4 years.
@Shaan G. did you know that switching to a vegan diet reduces your carbon footprint by more than buying an electric car?
I have gone vegan and have greatly reduced my purchase of single use plastics (shampoo bottles and body wash, bottled water, disposable pads and tampons, plastic shopping bags, Bandaids, disposable razors, most prepackaged foods, etc.). There are many steps you can take, and even focusing on just one at a time is great. If everyone does something simple like not using plastic shopping bags or buying bottled water, we can make an impact.
I'm wondering how those straws end up in the ocean? If people would just throw away their straws and other trash in a trashcan, wouldn't there be less in the ocean? Or does it en up in the ocean after somebody threw it away in a trashcan? If we dump less stuff onto the ground and just properly dispose of our trash, maybe there would also be less trash in nature
such a great video! i’m disabled myself and i’ve really been waiting to hear more about this in the media especially from climate-activists and other eco-concious people. i think using plastic straws is stupid if you don’t need them, but many people like myself do. i many times drink out of glasses that someone else is holding for me, and even tho i have tried other solutions, plastic straw is just the best one for me. i’m really passionated about fighting for our planet and climate but we making decitions like banning straws etc we must not make them without including everyone.
Straw may not be ultimate solution to the plastic issue, but it's a strong symbol as awareness to a problem. So it's worth the effort and I'm thankful to those who worked to ban them.
I really like the way you edit these videos. The smooth transitions and motion are very well soothing to watch haha. What video editor do you use? I'm figuring out which video editor I want to use to make a video for my IB personal project.
I think the only thing that would decrease the use of straws is stopping to give them away for free. Also why is there always pressure on the customers when it comes to ecology when shops can just add layers of plastic wrap to every clothing article and trash half of their products before they reach expiration date?
The Philippines has a bill for straws, it’s not a complete ban, but there’s a fee per straw so straws are used less
maeii that’s a great idea.
Excellent idea by the Phillipines
I think it would help a lot (with straws specifically I mean) if places like restaurants, cafes, etc. would make you ask for a straw if you wanted one. Don't hand them out by default, and don't leave them readily available to take as many as you wanted unless necessary. Even asking people if they would like a straw would be better than what it currently is at most places where they just lay it on the table with your drinks or stick it in there before it's even to your table.
Fishing nets I think are a significantly harder thing to tackle. It's not something easily cleaned up by your everyday person, and there's an entire industry that revolves around it's use. Straws are really only needed by people with disabilities; everyone else can make do without them. Fishing nets are needed by every industrial fisherman. The alternatives aren't as readily available, and you can't cease their use.
I agree that straws are small change and most likely just a scapegoat for the things that really need to be focused on (like when soda companies went from glass to plastic), but to jump straight to fishing nets I think is too ambitious and it isn't something your everyday person has any involvement in. Allow people to make a small difference without going out of their way first; that's how you'd get more involvement.
remember kids! just 100 companies are responsible for *71%* of CO2 emissions by way of energy use, product production, and *waste*. the other 29% accounts for not ONLY our activity, but livestock, general energy use, cars, and *every other company*. reducing our waste-producing habits IS important and NEEDS to happen, but we need to pin the bulk of the responsibility of the 100 people with names and faces in charge of these companies that're currently destroying our planet.
because if 29% of CO2 emissions count for literally every source that ISN'T these 100 companies, how much is giving up straws really going to do?
Thank you for this educating video :) It really made me rethink the issue about plastic straws. Now also considering disabled folks, I‘m also against plastic straw bans now.
Unrelated to the video, but ... I understand why I the envirmentalist ads but why did I get an ad for a plastic manufacturing company? 😂
It's important to also consider that as manufacturing of alternatives increases in capacity and technology, this will spread to other areas.
As demand increases for compostable cups for example, the technology will reach a point where all bottles could be compostable.
Based on the comments, most people still aren't aware that there are alternative materials for single-use straws & cutlery now. There's wheat straw, sugar cane, bamboo, and more. My mom's coworker told her that restaurants in Mexico switched to using edible cutlery years ago. I looked it up & they use utensils made out of wheat straw and avocado seed. I saw a video about edible utensils years ago & I thought it would've become popular in businesses and restaurants everywhere
What about single-use plastic bags? Vancouver, (where I live) has imposed a very very small tax on them - I believe it is 10 cents per bag - and immediately every single grocery store stopped assuming you wanted one. Most started offering reusable plastic/cotton bags, but you can often still find one if you really want.
It was a similar thing with straws. Pretty much every cafe just offers biodegradable straws, but only if you ask.
To me this seems like a success. It may not have a huge impact, but it does somewhat reduce our environmental footprint. Hopefully it is a small step towards less plastic in the future.
When I was younger, single use plastic bags used to be free in Romania. We did grocery shopping for a month back then and came back home with 2 large shopping carts full of plastic bags. When they put a tax on it, my parents just got reusable big bags and did shopping like that.
Living in a big city, any bag is useless. I have a 30L backpack that fits a week of groceries, and it's a 10 minute walk. I don't even have the "bag bag" anymore.
Why don't people just dispose of their garbage properly? Why is that so hard?
Whoa this video made me realize something I was unaware of
Something that kinda ticks me off is that locally, at our Taco Bell, I had brought my own CLEAN reusable cup in to use in place of their cup and straw, and the staff (whom I don't blame, they have a shit job, over worked, underpaid,) told me her manager wouldn't let people use their own cups, regardless of the drink being paid for. While I understand there could be some possibility of "contamination," this really pisses me off. It seems you're damned if you don't, and damned if you do.
I just stopped buying drinks there, and bring my own in. I'm waiting to be told I can't bring outside beverages in...at that point I'm writing the company an actual letter (I doubt they give a shit about the about the surveys. I always rate the staff high, so they *hopefully* don't feel the brunt of my cup bitching XD)
Could you do a video about terrapass and carbon offsets?
This is dumb. Just put like a massive tax on plastic bags or something so people actually reuse them. That would do much more I imagine.
I didn't expect to hear spoon theory in this video
Instead of banning straws why don't we as consumer just make more RESPONSIBLE CHOICES.
I do not HAVE TO use a straw just because a restaurant offers them.
If we just consume responsibly then straw demand (and future waste) will shrink down naturally.
The good thing about the straw ban is that it has sparked awareness and conversations about single-use plastic. Now that we have this awareness we can dial down the legal aspects of the straw ban.
Instead of banning them, tax them. Gradually expand those taxes to other single-use plastics. Invest that revenue in developing (and perhaps subsidising) sustainable, biodegradable alternatives.
Ahhh a Politician I see where the solution to everything is either more taxation or banning
welcome back!
I would love to see you collab with Atlas Pro!
I think a better solution to this whole thing is eliminating disposable to-go containers.
You want a drink on the go? Bring your own cup. You wanna take your leftovers home? Bring some Tupperware to the restaurant. Buying a bunch of new stuff? Bring a reusable toat on your trip.
This was an incredible video because of its nuance and attention to the often marginalized disabled population. Thank you
I think we got to start somewhere, and straws and plastic bags are the easy ones to start with. Eventually, it will be full ban of single use plastic, and we need to constantly expand the list, until we have something sustainable (hopefully).
5:38 I'm confused as to why plastic straws aren't a choking hazard?
It might be because just like a pen it has holes in which you can breathe.
Isn't it a start? Single use plastic bags have been banned here in NZ too... Once you've seen a plastic straw being pulled out of the nose of a sea turtle you give them up. I have a silicone bendy reusable straws which as a tetraplegic its' great when lying down & need a drink. I'm still trying to find alternatives to plastic water bottles, although I reuse my Pump ones until the lid is filled with teeth marks, it is still a waste. My sister is currently in the Galapagos Islands & is shocked at the micro plastics that are washing up there & being ingested by marine animals. We all have to make changes, no matter how small it all goes towards the larger goal...
I don't know about US, but most big restaurants here in EU (I can only speak for a few countries tho) already do not have plastic straws but instead give paper or straws made from plant starch (which are absolutely identical to plastic ones but are biodegradable) Also EU is not only banning straws but most of the single use plastics.
I live in Vancouver, many places here no longer use plastic straws and use paper straws instead. I personally am not a fan of paper straws, they get soggy and dont work as well. However some places use straws that seem to work just as well as plastic straws but they are compostable
Banning plastic straws may not be as effective as banning other single-use items but it’s still a step in some way to decrease plastic or cause consumers to rethink their actions. Also, I’m glad that there was this ban because it brings light and brings change to the plastic industry. I also think of the turtle that had a plastic straw stuck in its nose and don’t want that to happen again.
It can still be reduced. Are they all allergic to silicone? Also what about reusable plastic bendy straws as an AT (assistive technology)? Just a thought. 🤔
Great Video!! I agree that banning plastic straws is not the best thing as it negatively impacts disabled people. Instead I think we should strive to make more individualized choices. Anyway, keep up the good work, sir.
1:05 what ON EARTH is that drink? It looks like a mint salad with some ice
I wonder if one solution is to give a rebate for returning used fishing nets.
Seaspiracy has taught me that the main problem are those fishing nets.
You forgot "mouth feel" in that table ;)
I think that the most important part of the straw ban is removing single use items. I temporary lost the use of my right hand while needing to get my jaw wired shut for ten weeks. So rather than using single use straws, I made an effort to bring my own straws with me to consume my "food".
Even after my recovery (and I acknowledge some people have far more difficult situations), I have a hard time going to places like Starbucks (or any fast food place) due to the number of single use items that they hand out. Again, I think that it is possible to meet the needs of adaptive people while also not encouraging the use of single use items.
You still retained cognitive function. I frequently forget things and can't navigate to a house two streets away. I can't rely on just bringing my own.
your motion design are fck good
Every time I google how long can I reuse a plastic straws it instead tells me how long it takes for dirt to eat it witch is like someone asking what the normal human like spawn is and being answered with how long it takes the ground to eat your corpse
the state of Oregon recently passed a "straw ban" people can have them upon request, they can't be handed to them unprompted or on the counter.
I work at a movie theater, say you order a large drink, that means I am giving you a 54 oz PLASTIC cup, with a PLASTIC lid. And according to the law I can't simply ask you if you need a straw, I have to wait for you to go in search of one, realize they aren't where they used to be, and then you ask me.
It just feels so asinine. Like there is no way you could drink from a cup that size without baptizing yourself. And I find people who have reusable straws mention it anyways.
Personally I think it would be better to incentive it, like a nickel off if you don't want a plastic straw
My school don't have straws this year how the heck am I supposed to drink my milk, off the carton? Heck no
I agree. But I'm curious: What about a possible incentivization of inventing viable plastic alternatives with comparable properties as plastic through a straw ban? And again: I agree with the other points made.
Seems to me banning plastic straws is more of a political "feel good" distraction to focus on the "low hanging fruit" of straws instead of addressing the intricate challenges of the global fishing industry and other vital and/or economically impactful uses of non biodegradable waste.
I think we should invest in a measure of focus on hOW we throw away waste ...in repurposing and upcycling.
If we put a deposit on the return of packaging for recycling or reuse, it could be a win win on many levels...
Reducing pollution and encouraging wiser use and handling of waste for the monetary reward if not for environmental conscientiousness.
The first industry that should be banned is the military industrial complex doing more damages than all the major industries combined
I drink without straws. The coldest section of the cup is at the Top.😜
Always go for the bigfish, it's hard and needs unification
What about silicon straws?
They're very difficult to clean apparently.
(I've had some silicone chocolate moulds and they were still gritty after hand washing AND dishwasher twice... don't even wanna think about how to clean straws)
To say "you shouldn't ban straws because there are more harmful things" is as if you say: you shouldn't prohibit thefts because it's not as bad as murder.
It's not like you have a limited amount of annual laws that you can write.
You really shouldn't use this argument again.
!!!
This video quite literally emphasizes one point: If cleaning up the oceans is our goal, banning straws is wasteful. A better criminal comparison is not "should all theft invistigative resources be spent on murder investigation?". A better comparison is: Should we spend more resources on petty theft?
The video isn't whataboutism. It's saying: We are fighting a battle here over a small victory. Is the cost worth the effort? Or could we use the effort we are spending more effectively?
The raised questions are: Will pouring all theft investigative resources into murder investigation make our world better? And is investigating theft making the lives of a group of people harder, who are not at fault for theft? And if so, are we happy for those people to suffer to fix the problem?
@@roywolfe3780 Correct.
I heard that fishing nets take up most of the plastic trash anyway.
The idea of metal straws is beyond scary.
People who NEED plastic straws should use it , people who are lazy should not
I NEED plastic straws, and also, why ban them? Can't they get recycled? Weren't there Metal/Plastic/etc bins,what happened to those? Ohh yeah, the USA paying 3rd world countries like guatemala,india. To take out their trash. In conclusion not plastic is the problem, WE are the problem
why is the ocean a dump site for seattle and vancouver ? it's not like straw drinking takes place exlusively on the coasts.
there are rivers that dump into the ocean with trash from those two cities
The paper straws that i have used in place of the plastic ones are junk and you end up using 2 or 3 in one sitting.
It’s not just what’s in the ocean, it’s the production of plastic as well. Although it may be a small issue, it is at least a start that can put people on the right path to do more about the environment.
Finally!
Vsco girls r shaking
That chart seems weird to me... How is a plastic straw hot liquid safe and no injury risk?
I think it'd be a great start to just ban giving out straws with every drink and instead having people ask for it if they need one. Also have them be sold at pharmacies/the health section, not in the cupcake section. It's a medical product, not a party prop. So many places just put straws into drinks by default (be that plastic or paper) when most people probably don't care for them.
Straws are completely unnecessary for most people and drinks, so while it's only a small amount, it will have pretty much zero impact on people's lives. (And those it would have an impact on should still be able to use them duh.) It's kinda like a larger space in a bus/train. It's for people with wheelchairs, pushchairs, or a bicycle. Everybody else can keep their hand luggage on their knees and fit on a regular seat, or stand.
I'd love to ban cars in cities, but of COURSE people could get a permit if they're moving furniture, can't get up and down the underground stairs, or drive around a boot full of tools to fix people's homes.