The final straw for single-use plastic – and reusable alternatives

The final straw for single-use plastic – and reusable alternatives

With the European parliament voting to ban single-use straws back in March, and all single-use plastic likely to be banned by 2021 – reusable straws are becoming big news.

In the UK alone, 8.5 billion plastic straws are used every year, and vast numbers enter our oceans. The United Nations estimates that 800 species are affected by marine debris, up to 80 percent of which is plastic. The new laws came about as a result of increasing concern about water pollution.

McDonalds, who supply 1.8 million straws to customers every day, made headlines in April when they introduced paper straws – prompting some customers to launch a petition to bring back plastic straws. But the only way is forward, and there is clearly an opportunity for the public to get behind carrying their own reusable straws.

Bringing your own straw is likely to become standard practice once the EU ban is in full force, but it is not yet commonplace. This means that now is the perfect time to make sure the straws your customers carry are branded with your logo.

Not to mention an opportunity to help your customers live more sustainably, and to demonstrate your company’s eco credentials at a time when this matters more than ever.

There is a fantastic range of reusable straws for you to choose from, including stainless steel, bamboo and silicone. There is something to suit all budgets, and a great range of branding options.

Stainless steel straws are durable, tasteless, and resist oxidation and corrosion. They are easy to carry around as they do not break, plus they are dishwasher safe and easy to clean using the steel brush supplied with the product.

We offer metal straws engraved with your company name, presented in a gift pouch which can be printed on both sides. Our bestsellers include a stainless steel straw in a black microfibre pouch and a stainless steel straw with a natural-coloured 100% cotton pouch.

Folded reusable straws are a perfect option to keep with you at all times, as they tuck away neatly into a carry case which easily fits in a bag or pocket. An easy-to-wash silicone inner straw is contained within the metal straw, and this also gives the product a soft silicone tip.

Our branded folded straws are presented in neat storage case made of biodegradable materials, available in pink, grey, orange, green, blue and black. The storage cases can be printed with your branding, and they can even be Pantone matched on orders over 1,000.

For the most natural, sustainable material with the lowest carbon footprint, you can’t beat bamboo straws.  Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing and most sustainable plant materials on the planet, producing 35% more oxygen than trees and actively helping to repair the environment. Of all the reusable straws available, bamboo is the only one which is compostable.

Bamboo straws are easy to carry around, and they are dishwasher-safe. You do need to pay a little more attention to cleaning and drying them compared to some other types of straws, but if you look after them properly, they can last for a year or more – and they can be composted when they reach the end of their useful life.

Our branded bamboo straws come in sets of two with a steel brush for easy cleaning, and are presented in a cotton gift pouch that can be printed on both sides.

Soft and bendy, silicone straws can be easier to use for people who are new to reusable straws, and they are ideal for children. They can handle extreme temperatures so they work well with hot drinks as well as cold ones, and are dishwasher-safe. Silicone straws are also a more cost-effective option.

Although silicone is considered similar to plastic, it is not actually a plastic but a material made primarily from the naturally-occurring element silicon. Silicone straws are free from BPA and other substances common in plastics. Silicone is also a very stable material, meaning it does not leach chemicals when exposed to temperature variations and liquids.

We offer silicone straws that can be printed on and even Pantone matched for large orders, and silicone straws presented in a branded gift case. Cases are available in black, royal blue, red, orange, white and green.

If you still need some help narrowing down your options, our Promotional Merchandise Consultants will be happy to help you weigh up the pros and cons.