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For decades, plastic straws have been essential accessories for cocktail makers, smoothie lovers, and fast-food
But that may be starting to change, especially thanks to a vigorous campaign Environmental
the European Union, Britain, India and even fast-food giants like McDonald's have all made progress to end the use of plastic straws
and governments, especially in Europe, According to the American magazine n Science, 8 million tons of plastic are thrown into the oceans and seas of the Earth each year, or 250 kilograms (550 pounds) per second. [1] 9659006] For years, environmentalists have focused on plastic bags. But plastic straws are now in the spotlight, thanks in part to images that have become viral on the internet.
An online video about the danger posed by seemingly harmless straws shows a sea turtle saved from Costa Rica.
Baby Steps
In April, the British government announced its intention to ban the sale of single-use plastics, including straws.
The European Union followed suit at the end of May
. In the commercial capital of India, Burger King, McDonald's and Starbucks have been fined for violating a ban on single-use plastics, said an official last June
. from here 2022.
Some companies are also taking steps
In the UK and Ireland, McDonald's is committed to completing the transition to paper straws. here 2019.
In France, the hamburger giant is experimenting with alternatives. 59005] The Hilton hotel giant promised in May to remove the offenders from its 650 properties by the end of 2018.
"Punctured end to end, the straws spared every year (Europe , Middle East and Africa) would exceed length of the Seine, "said the hotel chain in a statement.
Bamboo Pasta and Sticks
There are alternatives to plastic straws, but they are much more expensive.
The five-star Monte Carlo Palace hotel in Monaco introduced biodegradable straws.
Others use raw pasta
The United States resist change while Europe takes the lead in biodegradable plastics made from fossil fuels or crops such as potatoes and corn.
Some 100,000 tonnes of bioplastics were produced in 2016 worldwide. In 1965, the biodegradable plastic production capacity reached 800,000 tons worldwide, said the European Bioplastics industrial group
and while this may seem like a step in the right direction, manufacturers are worried . "This is not a very good sign," said Hervé Millet, head of technical and regulatory affairs at PlasticsEurope, the region of "More … big companies also have concerns about their image and they have to less trying to find a way to meet the expectations of society. "
No Miracle Remedy [19659006] Be plastic straw manufacturer, who is based in France, is also uncertain about how to make the transition.
"The problem is not new and it's serious, so we obviously need to find alternatives" Director Pierre Be said: "We've been working on this for several months," he said. he said, adding that it was "really complicated" to try to make the change overnight. plastics may not be a miracle solution anyway.
"People think that biodegradable means that nothing is spilled into nature, but this is not the case at all," engineer Virginie Le Ravalec of the French Agency of the 39, environment and energy management
A separate bioplastic waste collection system should be put in place for change to actually work.
Activists fear, however, that biological waste will end up in the oceans – just like plastic for decades
"Over periods of days, weeks or even months, a bioplastic may present" Fiona Nicholls of Greenpeace warned:
As Such, Nicholls says that the only hope of humanity is to reduce our plastic consumption.
"Swapping one plastic for another … not a solution to the problem of plastic pollution that our oceans and waterways encounter. "
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