by David R. Chase

Created on: February 21, 2010   Last Updated: March 11, 2010

Millions of plastic drinking straws are dumped into landfills every day, piling on top of other non-biodegradable items and contributing to a problem that we can’t solve overnight.  Plastic straws are standard at any fast food restaurant, and many sit-down restaurants automatically serve them in drinks.   People use them at home and never think about what happens to the throw-away plastic after it hits the trash can. 

Aside from ecological issues, plastic straws may also contribute to poor health!  Bisphenol A (BPA), one of the toxic chemicals in plastic straws, has been linked to everything from breast cancer to birth defects – and to make matters worse, it’s been proven to leech out of your straw and into your beverage.  However, that risk can easily be mitigated by using glass drinking straws instead of plastic.

Instead of foregoing straws altogether, using straws made of borosilicate glass is the only viable option.  Borosilicate glass is sturdy, reliable and won’t leech any toxins into your drinks.  If borosilicate glass does break, it doesn’t tend to shatter – it simply cracks or snaps.  In fact, manufacturers of high-quality kitchenware have been using borosilicate glass for over a century because it can withstand high temperatures and rough handling without suffering.

Glass drinking straws can help both your health and the environment – so why aren’t more people using them?  People may not know what a big difference a little straw can make, but with a little research it’s easy to see why glass straws are a clear alternative to plastic.

Some people believe that glass drinking straws are expensive.  Not so!  Sites like Strawesome offer inexpensive glass straws with affordable shipping – and their products come with a lifetime anti-breakage guarantee.  Besides, the amount of money you’ll spend on a couple packages of disposable plastic straws in your lifetime is far greater than that of a set of glass straws.

Since glass straws are tough enough to survive a trip to your favorite restaurant in your purse, there’s no reason not to take them along.  Wrap them in a napkin and stash them in that mysterious and unused middle compartment of your handbag.  When you’re done, wrap them up with the leftovers and take them home to be washed.

Borosilicate glass straws are sturdy enough to be kept in their own compartment in your silverware drawer, but keeping them on your kitchen counter has added benefits; they’re a great conversation starter.  On top of that, they’re a testament to your commitment to maintaining your family’s health and keeping toxic, non-biodegradable plastics out of landfills... and a little straw makes a big difference!

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