It has been 2 years since I decided to adapt the zero-waste lifestyle—or, as I prefer to call it, low impact. And I still remember how big the concept seemed. As I have mentioned in this post before, it is important to do our research beforehand. For me, it is essential to be equipped with the right tools—in this case: reusable items.
However, there are so many to choose from and everyone seems to have an opinion about each one. What is the right move here? Personally, I think there is no right way to go zero waste (or low impact). All you need to do is find a way that suits you best. Which is why I thought I’d try a few zero-waste equipments and tell you what I think, so you wouldn’t have to purchase them all. Let’s start with something simple and easy, shall we: reusable straws.
Bamboo Straw
The only compostable one of this lot, bamboo straw is all natural. It usually only comes in one size and each one is unique, as it tends to be handmade. Coming in numerous sizes, a large bamboo straw cam also be used to drink boba. Personally, I don’t like the taste of the bamboo when I sip my drink. It also makes a sound that may not be enjoyable for some people—my boyfriend, for one, hates it. The texture also isn’t preferable to me, so it’s something to note when you try this one.
However, this straw has many advantages. First of all, as mentioned before, it’s all natural, which makes it compostable and entirely safe to use. Secondly, it’s the lightest straw out of all mentioned here, so it won’t add extra weight to your bag. That being said, it’s also pretty sturdy, so don’t worry of having it break and/or getting squashed in your bag.
Lastly, its manufacturing process doesn’t emit any pollution at all, so its mass production will not harm the environment just as much as plastic straws.
Stainless Steel Straw
Here’s everyone’s favourite straw. It comes in a multitude of colours, sizes, and shapes—bent, slightly bent, straight. This is the straw that I usually use, especially for drinking boba. The steel adds a cool feel to the drink that you’re drinking, especially something like iced coffee. It also tastes a subtle taste, though, so if you don’t like that, you might not enjoy it.
Personally, I find it really suitable for me. It’s stainless, so obviously, it’s pretty resilient and rust-free guarantee. You should always make sure to buy non-coated ones, though, as some coating will come off in your drinks and might not be safe to consume.
However, the hardness of the steel can be a hazard when something unexpected happens—a sudden brake, being shoved by someone, knocking into something—so be careful. Also, leaving metal too long in acidic drinks—coffee, citrus, etc.—can cause leaching that’s dangerous for our body. Not to mention the pollution that comes with manufacturing each straw isn’t exactly small too, so mass production of this kind of straw is almost the same as using a plastic one.
Glass Straw
Saving the best for last, here’s my absolute favourite kind. It’s only recently that I purchased a glass straw, but I instantly fell in love. It also comes in various colours and sizes—I’m not sure about shapes, but I think it’s usually pretty straight. Some glass straws are also wide enough for boba, although mine isn’t.
This one is probably the heaviest of the lot, but it tends to be quite insulated—whether you’re drinking hot or cold beverage, it won’t be amplified through this straw. I love its transparency, which guarantees its cleanness and allows me to show off what I’m drinking—especially if my drink is particularly fun in colour. Since it has blunt edges, it is much safer than the stainless variety.
Of course, since it’s glass, it could break into a million pieces if you drop it—although, so far, I’ve never had any mishaps with mine, so I had to assume it’s pretty resilient. The manufacturing process still leaves some carbon footprint, but it’s easily recyclable and doesn’t leach into your drink at any given time.
It doesn’t matter which kind of straws you decide to use. What’s more important is to pick one—or all three, why not?—and take good care of it. Keep in mind that these are meant to be reused, not disposed off easily, so please keep your eyes on it and don’t lose it.
Also, there is an alternative, in which you don’t have to use a straw at all: drink straight out of the glass. It has been the norm since before straws were invented, so it’s always the best option. Of course, if you’re unable to go without straws—or somehow feel like using one—reusable is definitely your best option.
There’s actually a disposable-but-compostable option for parties too—which is leaf straws—although I’m not sure if it’s available across the globe. In the end, I hope my 2 cents have helped you in some ways. Let me know what you want me to review next!
Also, which one is your favourite kind of straws?
It has been 2 years since I decided to adapt the zero-waste lifestyle—or, as I prefer to call it, low impact. And I still remember how big the concept seemed. As I have mentioned in this post before, it is important to do our research beforehand. For me, it is essential to be equipped with the right tools—in this case: reusable items.
However, there are so many to choose from and everyone seems to have an opinion about each one. What is the right move here? Personally, I think there is no right way to go zero waste (or low impact). All you need to do is find a way that suits you best. Which is why I thought I’d try a few zero-waste equipments and tell you what I think, so you wouldn’t have to purchase them all. Let’s start with something simple and easy, shall we: reusable straws.
Bamboo Straw
The only compostable one of this lot, bamboo straw is all natural. It usually only comes in one size and each one is unique, as it tends to be handmade. Coming in numerous sizes, a large bamboo straw cam also be used to drink boba. Personally, I don’t like the taste of the bamboo when I sip my drink. It also makes a sound that may not be enjoyable for some people—my boyfriend, for one, hates it. The texture also isn’t preferable to me, so it’s something to note when you try this one.
However, this straw has many advantages. First of all, as mentioned before, it’s all natural, which makes it compostable and entirely safe to use. Secondly, it’s the lightest straw out of all mentioned here, so it won’t add extra weight to your bag. That being said, it’s also pretty sturdy, so don’t worry of having it break and/or getting squashed in your bag.
Lastly, its manufacturing process doesn’t emit any pollution at all, so its mass production will not harm the environment just as much as plastic straws.
Stainless Steel Straw
Here’s everyone’s favourite straw. It comes in a multitude of colours, sizes, and shapes—bent, slightly bent, straight. This is the straw that I usually use, especially for drinking boba. The steel adds a cool feel to the drink that you’re drinking, especially something like iced coffee. It also tastes a subtle taste, though, so if you don’t like that, you might not enjoy it.
Personally, I find it really suitable for me. It’s stainless, so obviously, it’s pretty resilient and rust-free guarantee. You should always make sure to buy non-coated ones, though, as some coating will come off in your drinks and might not be safe to consume.
However, the hardness of the steel can be a hazard when something unexpected happens—a sudden brake, being shoved by someone, knocking into something—so be careful. Also, leaving metal too long in acidic drinks—coffee, citrus, etc.—can cause leaching that’s dangerous for our body. Not to mention the pollution that comes with manufacturing each straw isn’t exactly small too, so mass production of this kind of straw is almost the same as using a plastic one.
Glass Straw
Saving the best for last, here’s my absolute favourite kind. It’s only recently that I purchased a glass straw, but I instantly fell in love. It also comes in various colours and sizes—I’m not sure about shapes, but I think it’s usually pretty straight. Some glass straws are also wide enough for boba, although mine isn’t.
This one is probably the heaviest of the lot, but it tends to be quite insulated—whether you’re drinking hot or cold beverage, it won’t be amplified through this straw. I love its transparency, which guarantees its cleanness and allows me to show off what I’m drinking—especially if my drink is particularly fun in colour. Since it has blunt edges, it is much safer than the stainless variety.
Of course, since it’s glass, it could break into a million pieces if you drop it—although, so far, I’ve never had any mishaps with mine, so I had to assume it’s pretty resilient. The manufacturing process still leaves some carbon footprint, but it’s easily recyclable and doesn’t leach into your drink at any given time.
It doesn’t matter which kind of straws you decide to use. What’s more important is to pick one—or all three, why not?—and take good care of it. Keep in mind that these are meant to be reused, not disposed off easily, so please keep your eyes on it and don’t lose it.
Also, there is an alternative, in which you don’t have to use a straw at all: drink straight out of the glass. It has been the norm since before straws were invented, so it’s always the best option. Of course, if you’re unable to go without straws—or somehow feel like using one—reusable is definitely your best option.
There’s actually a disposable-but-compostable option for parties too—which is leaf straws—although I’m not sure if it’s available across the globe. In the end, I hope my 2 cents have helped you in some ways. Let me know what you want me to review next!
Also, which one is your favourite kind of straws?