EFFECT OF PLASTIC STRAW IN THE ENVIRONMENT

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GE 3

(THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD)

ABEGAIL BUENAVISTA

2023
INTRODUCTION

Plastics are a geological indicator for the Anthropocene era that have recently become an
environmental hazard due to their resistance to degradation and long-term persistence in the
environment. Plastic is a wonderful material and a driver of economic growth and synthetic
modernity; however, the irresponsible and unethical disposal of plastic waste in any habitat is
recognized as plastic litter. The modern lifestyle is embedded in the complexity of economic and
toxic interdependency of plastic use. In the 20th century, researchers have invested their efforts
in identifying the physicochemical structures and functionalities of plastics to make them
suitable for various applications. However, injudicious use and the unethical disposal of plastics
cause environmental pollution. With a growing concern of environmental stewardship, plastic
pollution gained increasing attention in the scientific community, governments, media, and the
public due to its negative impact on the environment and human health. Although plastics serve
as valuable resources and provide many benefits to society, such as comfort, hygiene, and safety,
leading to the well-being of society, its single-use nature and disposal outweigh the benefits
unless it is used and disposed of appropriately.

The widespread and indiscriminate use of plastic, a marvel of the modern economy since
its industrial production began in the 1950s, has led to a serious environmental problem of global
proportion. About 79 percent of the plastics that have ever been produced end up either in
landfills or the natural environment. Plastic pollution is adversely affecting marine life,
ecosystems, fisheries, people’s livelihoods, health, and well-being, among other dimensions of
sustainable development. In 2016, it was estimated that 8 million tonnes,1 an equivalent of one
garbage truck of plastic wastes every minute, leak into the world’s oceans every year (WEF,
2016). If this trend continues, projections reveal that oceans will have more plastic than fish by
2050. For this reason, in 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly, the world's highest-
level decision-making body on the environment, agreed to forge an international legally binding
agreement by 2024 to end plastic pollution.

OBJECTIVES

1. To identify the environmental facts about using plastic straws.

2. To investigate how bad plastic straws for the environment.

3. To know if banning plastic straws will save the environment.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Biodegradable

Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

Corrosion resistance

The ability to protect the substrate from open porosity and cracks.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their environment.

Microplastics

Small plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, often resulting from the breakdown of
larger plastic items.

Non-biodegradable

Unable to be broken down into natural, harmless substances by biological processes.

Tons

A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds (907.19 kg).

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW RELATED LITERATURE

Plastic straws are one of the top 10 most commonly found items in coastal litter cleanups
in the world. According to the Annual International Coastal Cleanup Reports 1988-2017, plastic
straws have been consistently ranked high based on the item counts during the cleanup
events. The current practices of production, design, utilization, and disposal of plastics have
confirmed severe negative impacts on the globe for ecosystem imbalance, biodiversity, human
health, climate change, sustainable livelihoods, cultural diversity, and ultimately human rights
(Kumar et al., 2021).

Use of Plastic Straws

The advantages of this material– durability, cheapness, lightness, and corrosion resistance
– made it so popular in usage in many industries for various purposes (Qiu et al., 2022).

Plastic is important in the economy, provides jobs, and abandoning it is a challenging

process requiring changes in human behavior. Moreover, straws are indispensable for a part of
the population – people with disabilities (Jenks & Obringer, 2020).

Environmental facts about using Plastic Straws

In 2016, it was estimated that 8 million tons, an equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic
wastes every minute, leak into the world's oceans every year (WEF, 2016). If this trend
continues, projections reveal that oceans will have more plastic than fish by 2050.

The production of straws leads to emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global
warming and harmful to nature and humans (Jonsson et al., 2021).

The COVID19 pandemic has created additional environmental sustainability issues

(Mekonnen and Aragaw, 2021).
How bad is the Plastic Straws for the environment

The issue is alarming as several petroleum-based plastics are non-biodegradable and

could be persistent for a long time (Dwivedi et al., 2019). Straws are made of oil-based material,
they do not decompose but remain in nature forever (Viera et al., 2020).

Plastic destroys the habitats of various animals – from birds to marine species, injures
them or gets stuck in the body, and the released harmful substances poison them (Qiu et al.,
2022).

Moreover, destruction covers not only natural ecosystems harming animals but also
agriculture, depleting the soil and limiting plant growth (Qiu et al., 2022). This consequence will
affect people since agriculture is the basis for ensuring food safety. Reducing the consumption of
plastic straws will help restore nature and preserve many species of flora and fauna.

Plastic micro- and nanoparticles, which result from the destruction of discarded plastic,
and their influence present a significant concern to researchers. Micro- and nano plastic are
absorbed by various animals, negatively affecting their organisms (Qiu et al., 2022). The
particles also impair the balance of nutrition, reproduction, and growth of nature (Viera et al.,
2020).

Entering the body of animals, microplastics are introduced into the human nutrition chain
and impact their health, affecting the central nervous system and reproductive processes (Qiu et
al., 2022). If plastic consumption is not reduced, the effect on animal and human health will
increase, leading to irreversible negative consequences.

Actions to lessen the use of Plastic Straws

In 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly, the world's highest-level decision-
making body on the environment, agreed to forge an international legally binding agreement by
2024 to end plastic pollution.

The Philippine Congress passed the Extended Producer Responsibility Act (EPRA) of
2022 or Republic Act (RA) No. 11898 which lapsed into law in July 2022. This requires large
enterprises to start recovering their plastic packaging wastes in December 2023. However, it
appears that much more remains to be done in waste prevention or upstream dimension of the
plastic pollution problem.

In the 19th Congress, bills on nationwide ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) have been
refiled both in the Senate and the House of Representatives (HRep). The Department of Finance
(DOF) is likewise pushing for the imposition of excise tax on SUP bags. The proposed excise tax
on plastic bags was approved on Third Reading by the HRep in November 2022 and sent to the
Senate for concurrence.

In late 2018, Café de Coral, IKEA and McDonald’s announced their no-straw campaign
respectively to encourage a sustainable future. In April 2019, Starbucks phased out plastic straws
and stirrers and switched to paper straws and wooden stirrers in 28,000 branches across the
globe. They pledged to reduce plastic waste by 30% by 2020 and alter customers’ plastic
consumption habits.

A study by Roy et al. (2021) claims that alternative straw options and their production
significantly reduce gas emissions. For example, Qiu et al. (2022) highlight paper and metal
straws as alternatives, and Romero Mosquera (2019) complements the list with such options as
corn-based, bamboo, silicone, and edible straws.

Cane, rice starch, wheat, and polylactic acid (PLA) are more material variants. Another
alternative is to avoid using straws, but they are too accustomed to people and, in some cases,
irreplaceable (Lim & Arumugam, 2019). Despite the objections, companies should carefully
study the advantages of existing alternative options and choose some of them for usage.

Will banning Plastic Straws save the environment?

Despite the concerted efforts by corporations, the plastic straws ban has only made a
minor difference in plastic waste production. National Geographic reveals that where 8 million
tons of plastics flow into the ocean every year, plastic straws merely comprise 0.025% of the
total. The finding indicates that banning plastic straws could not make a significant improvement
to the environment.

Research conducted by the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation reveals that Hong
Kong’s overall plastic straw consumption has dropped from 1.7 billion to 1 billion from 2017 to
2020, indicating a 40% drop in its annual plastic straw consumption. However, its overall waste
plastics have increased by 10.3% from 2017 to 2018, signifying that the plastic straws reduction
does not impose a huge impact on the overall amount of waste plastics.

Lonely Whale, an organization that led the straw ban movement in the USA, proposed an
interesting idea towards this question. They expressed that “Our straw campaign is not really
about straws. It’s about pointing out how prevalent single-use plastics are in our lives, putting up
a mirror to hold us accountable. We’ve all been asleep at the wheel.”
 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

This research employs a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and

qualitative approaches. Surveys and statistical analysis will be used to collect quantitative data,
while interviews and case studies will provide qualitative insights.

RESEARCH LOCALE AND SAMPLING PROCEDURES

The research will focus on a variety of environments, including urban areas, coastal
regions, and waste disposal sites. To ensure representation from various socioeconomic
backgrounds and geographical locations, a stratified random sampling method will be used.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The study focuses on plastic straw pollution in particular, looking at its life cycle,
environmental impact, and socioeconomic implications. The primary focus on marine
ecosystems and communities directly affected by plastic straw pollution is one of the limitations.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

Primary research instruments will include surveys, interviews, and direct observations.
Individuals will be given survey questionnaires, and key informant interviews will be conducted
with experts in environmental science, waste management, and community development.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

Surveys will be distributed to a representative sample of people in various locations.

Experts and members of the community will be interviewed. To understand the final stages of
plastic straw life cycles, direct observations will be conducted at waste disposal sites.
Survey Questionnaire

A structured survey questionnaire will be developed to collect quantitative data on plastic

straws usage patterns, plastic straws management and disposal, effects of using plastic straws in
the environment, and the effectiveness of banning of plastic straws. The questionnaire will be
administered electronically to ensure efficiency and facilitate data analysis.

Variables

Independent Variable

The independent variable in this study is the use and disposal of plastic straws. This
encompasses various aspects, including manufacturing processes, distribution, consumption
patterns, and disposal methods. Changes in these factors can influence the environmental and
socio-economic impact of plastic straw pollution.

Dependent Variables

Environmental Impact: Measured by assessing the presence of plastic straws in

ecosystems, particularly marine environments. Variables include the extent of contamination,
effects on marine life, and the prevalence of microplastics.

Socioeconomic Implications: Examined through variables such as livelihood disruptions,

health consequences, and long-term development impact on communities affected by plastic
straw pollution.

Data Analysis

For identifying trends, quantitative data will be analyzed using statistical tools such as
regression analysis. Thematic analysis of qualitative data will be used to identify key patterns,
allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental and socioeconomic impact of
plastic straw pollution.
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