Plastic straws are a particular peeve of mine. I am aware that they are cost effective for retailers and consumers but they are so wasteful and bad for the environment. They are frequently sighted in rubbish heaps, on the side of the road and clogging up waterways – they are terrible for the environment and their use needs to be reduced.

Plastic straws are single use, they are not recycled and they are another product that is terrible for the environment. We as socially responsible consumers must embrace products that are not detrimental to the environment, we must demand better products and must boycott products and retailers that do not uphold sound environmental policies.

So what is a better option? We do not necessarily have to stop using straws, what we have to do as a society is demand better products. We as consumers must not use plastic products, plastic straws can be replaced with materials that are biodegradable- we as consumers must refuse the convenience of plastic straws for more environmentally sustainable products, even when they incur a cost premium.