Sustainable Swaps: Plastic-Free Straws
Like so many single-use plastic items, straws may seem like a small convenience, but their environmental impact is anything but minor. As one of the most common single-use plastics, plastic straws are used for only a few minutes yet can persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
Due to being lightweight and easily carried by wind and water, millions of plastic straws end up in waterways each year, accumulating in rivers, beaches, and oceans where they pose a serious threat to marine life. Animals such as sea turtles, seabirds, and fish can mistake plastic straws for food, leading to ingestion, injury, or even death.
Fortunately, there are an increasing number of sustainable alternatives available. Reusable options like stainless steel, glass, and silicone straws, as well as biodegradable paper or bamboo straws, offer practical solutions for reducing reliance on single-use plastics. Many businesses and communities have already begun phasing out plastic straws in favor of these eco-friendly alternatives, responding to increasing consumer demand for sustainable products. Keep the momentum going by joining in! Try out some of our favorite alternatives.
GLASS
SIMPLY STRAWS
Plastic-Free • Reusable
We love that Simply Straws has really gone the extra mile to be eco-friendly and inspire other companies to do the same. Their products are reusable, sustainable, durable, biodegradable, BPA-free and handmade with intention in the USA. They use non-toxic dyes, FSC certified 100% post-consumer recycled paper for business material, and all of their packaging is compostable. Even their web-hosting and printing is powered by eco-energy!
STAINLESS STEEL
KLEAN CANTEEN
Plastic-Free • Reusable
If glass options aren’t for you, stainless steel is a great choice! Klean Canteen offers a set of four made from certified 90% post-consumer recycled 18/8 stainless steel with removable food-grade silicone tips. They even include a brush to clean them and they’re dishwasher-safe.
Remember Keiko's Sustainable Saturdays feature can't be bought by brands for advertising but you can always suggest your favorite sustainable brands for us to choose from! Use the tag #KeikoSustainableAlternatives. Some of these options may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase the item, a small % helps us keep this site up and running. Affiliate links are only used when available and do not determine whether or not an item is featured. All items are tried independently by our team.
