In July 2019, more than 270 F&B companies in Singapore will stop providing straws as an environmentally friendly initiative to reduce plastic waste. For lovers of bubble tea, teh-beng, soft drinks and milkshakes, what can you do to help cut down on the use of straws?
1. Reusable Straws
A new trend of reusable straws have emerged worldwide and Singapore is seeing a rise in the usage of straws that are made with materials such as metal, silicon, glass and even bamboo. These aesthetically-pleasing designs make drinking from reusable straws look stylish. It is definitely handy to have a few of these straws around in the house and you can even get one to bring with you on-the-go.
Reusable straws do come in different sizes, which is great for foodies who need larger straws to slurp up bouncy tapioca balls in bubble tea as well as individuals who enjoy thicker beverages like milkshakes and smoothies.
Many of these straws come with attractive and convenient packaging, which often include a container or bag for users to carry their straws with them.
2. Edible Straws
Straws that are edible, what is not to love? You can finish up your favourite drink and ideally eat the straw. No wastage at all! Examples of edible straws which are trending include pasta straws, rice straws and a crowdfunding phenomenon, seaweed straws. Seaweed straws are catching the attention of fans worldwide because it gives the mouth-feel that is similar to plastic straws. They are also gluten-free and sugar-free, which work for consumers with dietary restrictions.
While most of the ingredients used in edible straws sound unappealing to eat, the positive thing about them is that they are bio-degradable and will not add to the problem of pollution.
3. Compostable Straws
Some people might not favour the idea of reusable straws because they can be hard to clean and maintain. This is why compostable straws are also in demand. The most common compostable straw is actually made of paper. Given the colourful designs of paper straws, they are well-received at parties, weddings and baby showers. Plant fibres also make great compostable straws. In fact a company in Taiwan is currently patenting their sugar cane straws, hoping that these are the solution to straws which can be thrown after one-time use.
4. Go straw-less
Come to think of it, are straws necessary? Haven’t we been drinking from cups and even bowls for generations? To truly go green, ditch the straws and drink with gusto. Even “hard-to-drink” beverages like milkshakes or bubble tea can be paired with a spoon so you can still enjoy your favourite drinks in Singapore.
