Extreme waste, minimal convenience

Roughly 500 million single-use plastic straws are used daily in the U.S. alone.

That’s enough to wrap around the world 2.5 times every single day—and none of them can be recycled!

That’s why they’re one of the most common types of debris our captains and crews recover from the world’s oceans, rivers, and coastlines.

Plastic straws are NOT recyclable

Single-use plastic straws are typically made from a type of plastic called polypropylene (PP or polypro for short), which is identified by this symbol:

Polypro is an extremely versatile plastic resin that’s used to make a variety of industrial, medical, and household products. It’s often called “the living hinge” because it’s resistant to cracking and stress, even when bent.

Single-use plastic straws are typically made from a type of plastic called polypropylene (PP or polypro for short), which is identified by this symbol:

Polypro is an extremely versatile plastic resin that’s used to make a variety of industrial, medical, and household products. It’s often called “the living hinge” because it’s resistant to cracking and stress, even when bent.

Polypro is now one of the most commonly used thermoplastics in the world. The ideal material for straws, you’ll also see it used in everything from food packaging to automotive parts.

And while polypro is technically recyclable, it’s actually one of the least recycled plastics. In fact, most curbside recycling programs won’t accept it.

But even when they do accept polypro, they still won’t accept straws.

That’s because these short-lived tools are too lightweight to make it through mechanical recycling sorters. They drop through sorting screens, mix with other materials, and contaminate entire recycling loads.

Plastics can only be recycled with like plastics, so contamination means entire batches of otherwise recyclable plastics go straight to the landfill instead of getting recycled into something new.

Animals most impacted by pollution from plastic straws

Plastic straws are a serious risk to wildlife everywhere. From marine and coastal environments to freshwater and inland habitats, these are some of the animals most impacted by straws.

Seabirds

Sea Turtles

Marine Mammals

Fish

Corals

Invertebrates

Amphibians

Insects

Sip your way to a cleaner ocean

Single-use plastic straws have only been around since the 1960s. And while we can’t discount the fact that they’ve improved life for folks with disabilities, most of us could easily switch back to the reusable alternatives that we used before plastic took over. Pair your Last Straw Bracelet with these sustainable swaps to maximize your impact!

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4ocean x To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set

$18.00

Straws aren’t the only type of plastic drinkware that pollutes our waterways. Swap disposable plastic cups for these dishwasher-safe stainless steel alternatives.

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ZeroWasteStore Mesh Produce Bag - Multiple Sizes - Zero Waste Net Bag

$5.49

Skip the straw altogether with our convenient on-the-go reusable water bottles. Designed to keep drinks at their ideal temperature longer, you’ll never go back to plastic once you make this switch!

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