We McSisters are passionate about ridding the world of single-use plastic for so many reasons – such plastics are made with hazardous chemicals that we ingest to our detriment, plastic waste is polluting our oceans and killing and harming marine life to their detriment and ours, and rarely is single-use plastic actually necessary as there are so many alternatives.  Even though we are passionate, we try (mostly successfully) not to make people wrong or tell them what to do.

One of the biggest challenges in our efforts to be passionate and still be kind, is straws.  Our friends say: “What’s the big deal” or “it’s so small what harm can it do” or “it gets recycled and does not end up in the ocean”, etc.  Then I say: “Well, I wish that were  true.” The more accurate version is that plastic straws are not recyclable, are made with carcinogenic chemicals, and last for at least 200 years in the environment.

We urge our friends to get a metal straw to carry with them and forgo the plastic straws, leaving them for those who need them due to disabilities or other reasons.

What can you do?

• Say no to straws and carry your own in a purse or to-go bag

• Learn about single-use plastic straws and their impact Read: https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/plastic-straws

• See more on our “Why It Matters” page