10 Reasons You Should Use Bamboo Drinking Straws

Making the switch from a plastic to a bamboo drinking straw is super simple and full of benefits. It’s one
of the easiest steps you can take towards helping solve the plastic waste problem on our planet.

1. Reusable and Long Lasting

One of the top benefits of using bamboo drinking straws is that you can reuse them over and over.
When properly cleaned and cared for, a bamboo drinking straw can last several years. I bought my first
set a little over two years ago and they have shown no signs of wear and I use them daily.

In order to ensure the longevity of your bamboo straws, after hand washing, make sure to let them fully
dry by laying them flat (not vertical) to prevent any water buildup at the bottom of the straw and always
store them in a well-ventilated area. Avoid airtight containers or jars as this will cause potential moisture
buildup inside the straws.

You can also soak your straws in hot water and vinegar for a few minutes once a month to keep them in
top condition.

2. Cost-Effective

The amount you will spend on a pack of bamboo drinking straws will be a fraction of what you would
spend on a lifetime of using plastic straws. Most bamboo drinking straws come in bundles of 10-20
pieces in various sizes and will cost approximately Php 150 to 200 depending on the brand. Many
popular online retailers will also have offers for buying in bulk.

Money aside, consider the real environmental cost of using plastic drinking straws. It’s estimated that in
the United States they use nearly 500 million disposable plastic straws a day – that’s enough to wrap the
circumference of the earth 2.5 times around! And that’s just in the USA, this number is even higher
when you add in the global population.

In the Philippines, plastic straw have a devastating effect on our environment. In a statement released
by Greenpeace last August 2018, the country ranked third in the world's plastic polluter of oceans, a
close contender after Indonesia (second) and China, which ranked as the top offender. This massive cost
can be prevented by switching over to a bamboo straw.

3. Healthy and Chemical-Free

Plastic straws are made from the petroleum-derived chemical, polypropylene. The FDA determines this
material is safe for food contact, but research evidence has shown that it can leak chemicals into liquids
and potentially disrupt hormone levels – in particular, estrogen, which is the last thing I need changing
in my body!
With hot beverages, the plastic can become heated and these toxic chemicals can leak out of your straw
and contaminate your drink. Even small amounts of high acidity and UV light can break down these
harmful compounds and infuse them into your drink. No thank you!

BPA (bisphenol A) can also be found in hard plastics and at higher levels has been linked to health
problems. Most plastics generally contain fancy chemical additives, that can build up in the body and
potentially become carcinogenic over time. Phthalates may also impair immune function and promote
early onset puberty, obesity, diabetes and hyperactivity. As a parent, these are all things I want to
protect my children from.

The goods news is that bamboo fibers have natural antimicrobial properties meaning they are less likely
to harbor bacteria over time and be more resistant to spoiling or rotting over time. Bamboo is also
grown chemical-free, not requiring the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

4. Stylish and Fun

Bamboo is eye-catching and stylish. A quick photo of a bamboo drinking straw in any beverage will be
Instagram worthy. Kids love the novelty of a fun looking straw and will be encouraged to finish their
healthy juice or smoothie. It also serves as a great opportunity to educate your children or guests about
the dangers of plastic waste due to single-use plastic drinking straws.

They are a great accent when making a refreshing summer drink or warm winter treat. Most brands
have lengths that are around eight inches which is more than long enough to fit in a typical 12-16oz
glass or cup.
5. Durable

Many bamboo drinking straws come finished and treated with a polish. This gives the straws no sharp
edges or lower risks of breakage. They are child-friendly with smooth edges that won’t cause any
irritation when using. Bamboo drinking straws can be used for both hot or cold beverages.

Bamboo is also used in buildings and bridges in some parts of the world. As a material, bamboo has a
higher specific compressive strength (ability to withstand heavy loads) than wood, brick or concrete, and
a specific tensile strength (how hard it is to pull a material apart) that is close to steel. This makes
bamboo one of the strongest eco-friendly materials on earth.

Now don’t go dropping steel beams and concrete bricks on your straws, but expect your bamboo
drinking straws to withstand a lot of use!

6. Easy Cleanup

Many different brands of bamboo drinking straws may come with a handy brush that helps for a
thorough cleaning. This consists of a long metal rod with nylon brushes attached at the end.

A simple hand washing with lukewarm soapy water will do the trick. You can also shake the straws in a
jar full of warm soapy water for cleaning many at once. Your straws should be laid out and air dried
before using again to prevent any moisture from building up inside.

7. Portable On-The-Go

Super-lightweight (less than 1oz), bamboo drinking straws don’t take up much space. You can simply
toss your straw in your bag and take it with you on-the-go. The first set of straws I purchased also came
with a small and convenient carrying pouch that fits easily inside my purse or tucks away in the kitchen
drawer.

8. An Eco-Friendly and Renewable Resource

Bamboo is a super plant! Famously known as one of the world’s most renewable materials, it is the
fastest growing plant in the world being able to grow up to three feet a day. Bamboo requires no
pesticides, and little water- especially compared to other crops such as cotton.

When bamboo is harvested, the plant easily regenerates itself. Bamboo does its job for the environment
by offering 35% more oxygen than trees and actually helps absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

Bamboo drinking straws are made from 100% all-natural bamboo and carry all of the eco-friendly
properties of the plant in its original form.

9. Eliminates Plastic Waste

Think about every “to-go” drink such as soda, iced coffee, smoothie, juice, or cocktail which uses at least
one straw and sometimes even comes wrapped individually in extra plastic or paper.

This single-use plastic product is filling up our landfills at an enormous rate, with 175 billion going into
our landfills each year. And that is just the plastic straws that make it to our landfills, with other straws
getting swept away into the ocean. When plastic straws make it into the ocean marine life can
accidentally ingest them causing a 50 percent mortality rate in seabirds and turtles.

Any straws that are not ingested break down into smaller and smaller pieces known as “microplastics”
rather than naturally biodegrading, which clog up waterways and threaten ecosystems of fish.

It’s estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic waste in the ocean than fish! When thinking about
my children’s future, these thoughts are frightening. Bamboo drinking straws are a safe and natural
alternative that won’t endanger marine life or pollute the environment. It is a simple step you can take
towards solving the problem of plastic waste on our planet.

10. Biodegradable

Bamboo is a biodegradable material, which comes from the earth and goes back to the earth,
decomposing within 4-6 months. On the contrary, plastic drinking straws will take up to 200 years to
fully decompose!

When your straws show natural signs of wear and tear such as splitting or fraying at the ends, it’s time
to dispose of them. Rather than throwing them in the garbage, you can simply compost them in soil
allowing them to decompose and return to the earth. I suggest breaking them in half or using plant
trimmers if you want to spread out smaller pieces in your compost garden.