HOW DO STRAWS HURT THE ENVIRONMENT?

Straw or No Straw: How Our Choices Impact Aquatic Wildlife One Straw at a Time

HOW DOES PLASTIC IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT?

Plastic can be used to save wildlife, but it can also be extremely dangerous, especially when we over-produce, over-use, and over-consume and then fail to reuse, recycle, and/or dispose of it properly.

Most plastics are not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria or other living things, and as a result, most of it ends up in wildlife habitats where it poses a threat to plants and animals.

More than 50% of all of the plastic ever made has been produced since 2004. Plastic pollution is a result of the buildup of plastic waste that has accumulated over decades and especially over recent years. The accumulated plastic finds its way into our lakes, rivers, and oceans, where aquatic life is in danger of ingesting plastic or being exposed to the toxins that leach from it. Some wildlife, like sea turtles, sea birds, and marine mammals, can even get trapped or ensnared in plastic waste. Millions of turtles, seabirds, and other wildlife die each year from complications directly related to plastic consumption. It’s estimated that as many as 70% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have ingested some type of plastic from the ocean.

WHY ARE STRAWS BEING BANNED? HOW DO STRAWS HURT THE ENVIRONMENT?

As one of the most common types of single-use plastic, or plastic products that are generally used only one time and then thrown away, straws are one of the culprits of unnecessary plastic pollution.

The particular problem of plastic straws

10 hundred million straws are used each day by people in the world. Plastic straws are one of the most widely used, and therefore disposed of, plastic products. Many types of straws cannot be reused or recycled due to the chemicals they are made from. Most plastic straws are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials.

Straws are particularly prone to ending up in our waterways, and ultimately the oceans, due to beach littering, wind that transports the lightweight objects from trash cans and trash collection facilities, and barges, boats, and aquatic transport vehicles. Most plastic straws simply break into ever-smaller particles, releasing chemicals into the soil, air, and water that are harmful to animals, plants, people, and the environment.

WHAT ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC STRAWS?

If you or a loved one is required to use a straw for medical purposes, or if you just prefer to consume your beverages with straws, there are many non-plastic straw options available. Simply replacing cheap and disposable plastic straws with reusable stainless steel, glass, or biodegradable paper alternatives is an easy way to cut down on plastic pollution.

WHERE ARE STRAWS BANNED?

Banning plastic straws may very well become a standard initiative in the next few years. Several organizations have already taken steps to ban plastic straws in order to protect the environment. Plastic straws have been banned in several cities and countries around the globe, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Great Britain, Scotland, New York City, Seattle, Miami Beach, Vancouver, Hawaii, California, and Taiwan. Other locations and organizations where straws are banned or no longer in use include:

KFC
Pizza Hut
Royal Gift Shops and Museums in the UK (at
Queen Elizabeth II’s request)
Various Members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The University of Portland
The Art Institute of Chicago
McDonald’s (UK)

WHAT ARE AZA FACILITIES DOING TO HELP PREVENT PLASTIC POLLUTION?

A number of accredited members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums make it a priority to reduce their impact on the environment by implementing green practices in their business operations.

“Saving animals starts with saving habitats, and by choosing to act responsibly in our business practices, we provide support for our field

Conservation work around the world and our conservation education programs at home,” said Wanda Evans, former chair of AZA’s Green Scientific Advisory Group. “We cannot, as an industry, be serious about saving wildlife without being serious about natural resource conservation.”

To address the plastic straw problem, among other issues affecting aquatic wildlife, a group of AZA-accredited aquariums formed the Aquarium Conservation Partnership and launched the “In Our Hands” and “First Step” campaigns. These nationwide initiatives, as well as several local efforts, empower individuals to reduce their own straw usage by choosing not to use them at restaurants and/or buying non-plastic alternatives. Visit the Aquarium Conservation Partnership’s website, take the pledge to skip straws, and learn more about the effect of plastic straws, and other single-use plastics, on the environment.

LOOKING FOR QUALITY PAPER STRAWS?

RAPOS Straw stands for high quality paper straws at an affordable price. Our biodegradable paper straws are printed with food safe bio ink. Our paper straws are solid, waterproof and resist to liquids for up to 6hours.

Rapos, We only sell quality paper drinking straws that stand the test of time and don't go soggy! Biodegradable and from sustainable sources, Ecotaste Paper Straws.

We produce three-layer thick kraft paper, high hardness, size pattern can be customized.

Rapos 100% biodegradable, passed TBS certification.

Rapos Straw spent 3 years in researching and testing with the goal to create the safest and strongest paper straws for the best drinking experience. Our straws do not contain BPA, 3-MCPD and are free of MOSH & MOAH.

We are proud to be the only (or one of the very few) Tanzania manufacturers being able to produce eco friendly and biodegradable straws complying to the most stringent environmental and food safety standards.

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES: PAPER STRAWS VS PLASTIC STRAWS

Vita ya matumizi ya mirija ya plastic imekua ni gumzo kubwa ulimwenguni kote.

The war on plastic is prevalent in countries all over the world today. In Europe, findings from the latest Eurobarometer survey on environmental waste found that 87% of Europeans were concerned about the environmental impact of plastic. Some 74% of people surveyed are also worried about the impact of plastics on their health.

It’s clear to see that alternatives to plastics are one way of meeting the modern customer’s wants and needs in terms of product quality and responsibility. But what happens when we look specifically at paper straws vs plastic straws? Are paper straws really a better alternative to plastic straws?

Customer Experiences: Paper Straws vs Plastic Straws

The experience of using paper straws:

Certain kinds of paper straws have received bad press because they can become soggy and limp when placed in liquid. Fortunately, these tend to be the cheaper, mass-produced versions – often made in Chinese factories – and there are better alternatives out there to keep you and your customers happy.

It is possible to find paper straws that are crafted from high-quality paper and water-based adhesives. Leading glue manufacturers that produce low-migration adhesives, meaning they’re 100% free of plasticizers, phthalates (compounds used in making PVC and vinyl), benzoates and triacetin – all of which are harmful to human health and the environment. The glue also has an impressively high heat-resistance, meaning paper straws can work very well with even the hottest of beverages.

When we look closely at paper straws vs plastic straws, there’s also the issue of how it changes the taste of the beverage. Plastic, for example, is understood to negatively alter the taste of hot drinks – because the petroleum in the plastic can leak into the liquid.

The experience of using plastic straws:

The experience of using plastic straws is well-established and familiar to the vast majority of the population, even if they’d rather prefer a more environmentally-friendly alternative. Many people have grown up with plastic straws as the norm, and therefore don’t question the experience.

Indeed, there is still a small but necessary demand for plastic straws in medical fields – in hospitals and pharmacies. For example, some people who live with disabilities still need to use plastic or metal straws for medical reasons. In the UK, the NHS alone purchased 15 million plastic straws in 2018. However, there are now plans to reduce the number of plastic straws used in hospitals and care facilities.

As a result, there is an increasingly high demand for paper straws in hospitals, which can be given to patients who aren’t living with a disability. However, these must be high-quality paper straws that meet hygiene standards, can withstand heat, and will survive liquid for prolonged periods of submersion.

Legal Implications of Drinking Straw Materials

Single-use plastics will be banned in the EU by end of 2021. This includes, but isn’t limited to, plastic straws, stirrers, single-use plastic cutlery, and plates. All EU member states are required to follow this new legislation or risk fines and, in some serious non-compliance cases, criminal charges.

The Recyclability Of Drinking Straws

Recycling plastic straws:

People find it difficult to recycle plastics properly, no matter how good their intentions are. This is because most plastic straws are made from Polypropylene, a plastic which is very difficult to recycle, as many local authorities simply don’t provide the right services or facilities to do so.

Moreover, even if a local authority does provide the right facilities, plastic straws are often overlooked accidentally as they’re smaller and it’s easier to lose them during the recycling process. Plastic straws made from polypropylene are classed as a type five plastic on the plastic resin scale, which can affect the ease and accessibility of how and where you can recycle it.

Recycling paper straws:

Paper straws are fully recyclable, although councils and local authorities need to improve their current recycling programmes to take advantage. There has been recent speculation that McDonald’s paper straws can’t be recycled, although this claim is unfounded as it was later discovered that paper straws can be recycled and that, instead, there needs to be improvements in the UK’s recycling infrastructure.

Better yet, biodegradable paper straws can be composted – either at a processing plant or even in the consumer’s own garden as a mulch.

Impact On Nature And Wildlife

How plastic straws impact nature:

More than 80% of litter in oceans, rivers, beaches and seas consists of various plastics, according to findings released by the European Commission. This is due to the fact that plastics have a decomposition rate of around 200 years. Plastic straws are also a real threat to wildlife, as marine creatures such as whales, seals and seabirds mistake them for food.

The straws can block their digestive systems or suffocate them, causing unnecessary suffering and death, which negatively impacts the food chain and ecosystems all over the world. Humans are also affected by this, as plastic can end up in seafood such as fish and shellfish.

How paper straws impact nature:

Paper straws decompose within two months on land and six months in saltwater. If animals accidentally ingest a biodegradable FSC-approved paper straw, this is deemed much safer as they are more digestible for animals – thus they aren’t as harmful, nor do they impact the food chain so drastically.

Technology and Manufacturing of Paper and Plastic Straws

Manufacturing paper straws:

The structure of paper straws also plays an essential role in their longevity. Opting for three-ply spiralled paper straws rather than one-ply paper straws has many advantages. One-ply paper straws lose up to 80-90% of their strength when exposed to liquids for thirty minutes or more. Spiralled paper straws are structurally sound, lasting up to 3 hours when immersed in liquids.

Spiralled paper straws can be produced in high volumes in a very short amount of time – specifically, 450 paper straws per minute by our machines at Rapos Paper Straws, with less than 2% glue used for each straw. In fact, the SPI Glue Application system means the glue is applied more precisely than ever before and automatically rejects paper straws that don’t fit with the accurate specifications.

When we look at paper straws vs plastic straws, the three-ply paper straws boast an “anti-fizziness” feature where over-carbonation is minimised in fizzy drinks. When it comes to consumers, paper straws are designed to last but without the damaging impact on the environment.

Manufacturing plastic straws:

Manufacturing plastic straws is inherently messier and involves more environmental risk. Plastic is made from oil, which is extracted from the ground and piped thousands of miles to refineries. Of course, these pipes routinely burst due to excavation accidents, weather, corrosion and other factors.

This means oil can affect people, property and animals – as well as bodies of water. Oil pipeline accidents are prevalent, with the equivalent of 200 barrels spilled every day in the USA alone – according to findings by Richard Stover, PhD, at the Center for Biological Diversity.

When it comes to manufacturing plastic straws, factories are greatly contributing to this cycle. Polypropylene is made by stringing the molecules of propylene gas together – so it requires a lot of molecules to form the plastics you see used in plastic straws. With a large number of molecules comes more chance of creating waste. Plastic resin can be contaminated or overheated, so it has to be thrown away – and it’s not like this plastic is particularly easy to recycle.

Summary: Paper vs Plastic Drinking Straws

Paper straws vs plastic straws shouldn’t be a particularly controversial debate. Even though there is work to be done to improve paper products themselves, and the infrastructure that supports a circular economy, the impact of paper straws on the environment is far less harmful than plastic. Businesses can take environmental responsibility seriously, build a positive reputation, and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability by introducing paper straws instead of using plastic straws in their products.

It's estimated that around 800 different species are affected by ocean plastic pollution and that at least 100,000 marine mammals die every year as a result of plastic debris.

SAY GOODBYE TO PLASTIC STRAWS - TANZANIA.

Order sustainable paper straws wholesale directly from us.

The sustainable high-quality alternative to plastic straws

The days of plastic are numbered. At Rapos Tanzania, we can help your business transition from plastic straws to a high-quality, environmentally-friendly paper alternative – without skipping a beat.

RAPOS, We produce biodegradable paper straws, Our unique paper straw technology enables the delivery of high-volume paper straw production – to meet any client demands. By working only with the best suppliers and materials, and by minimising waste, we ensure optimal quality while keeping our environmental footprint low.

Rapos Naturally degradable compost -

Say Goodbye to Plastic Straws

100% environmentally friendly material, natural degradation, high temperature resistance. Three-layer thick kraft paper, only at Rapos Tanzania.

Rapos paper straws can be your everyday alternative to plastic because it is what is right our environment. Do your part in protecting our oceans, rivers and the marine life that live there by choosing paper straws. If you are a business looking to make the switch to paper in your establishment,

Instagram: @rapostanzania

Dar-es: +255 783 776 502

Kariakoo: +255 65 672 6906

Zanzibar: +255 782 777 236

Website: www.rapostz.com

EVERY PLASTIC STRAW YOU’VE EVER USED IS STILL OUT THERE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.

That problem won't be fixed by forgoing a straw, but environmentalists say letting go of a single piece of plastic could be a first step in a much-needed larger behavior change.

In the United Kingdom alone 8.5 billion plastic straws get binned every year. It’s time for action. We can stop the problem from growing at the source.
Bars, Restaurants, Cafes - If you’re ready to replace plastic straws we’re ready to support you. We will help you achieve your goal by providing a practical solution to the single use plastic straws issue.
Members of the public - we need you to refuse plastic straws and demand an alternative. Find out how you can get involved, and make a difference.

Wrapped Paper Packaging Paper Straw
Tumia mirija ya karatasi ili kulinda mazingira.

PLASTIC STRAWS SUCK!

We want to encourage people to stop using plastic straws for good.

Biodegradable Paper Straws Tanzania

RAPOS is the trade supplier of biodegradable paper straws to the bar, pub, restaurant and hospitality industries. We only sell quality, 100% biodegradable paper straws.

Non-polluting

Unlike plastic & bio-plastic (PLA), the manufacturing of our straws is sustainable. They are fully biodegradable and non polluting, even if disposed of in the environment.

We Want To Encourage People To Stop Using Plastic Straws For Good.

Plastic straws pollute our oceans and waterways

It's estimated that 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year, and 1.15–2.41 tons of it is carried there down major rivers around the world. ... As the straws do not biodegrade, they then stay in the bird's stomach until it dies

Our straws don't cost the earth

Our standard drinking straw has a wider diameter, and is designed to replace two plastic drinking straws. Replace your plastic straws with our paper straws for the same or little extra cost.

Designed for longevity

Our paper drinking straws are designed using on average 1/3 more material to provide strength and durability. We have tested our straws in a broad variety of refreshments. 100% reliable solution.

One straw replaces two

The diameter of our straws is 1.5 wider than the average straw, allowing 1 straw to be used in a drink where 2 straws would normally be used.

TBS Approved

Our straws are manufactured under the strictest hygiene standards and approved under the TBS Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS)

Sustainably managed forests

Plastic straws are made from oil and other non-renewable materials. The paper used to make our straws come from managed sustainable forests.

The paper straws we provide can sit in a drink for up to one hour before showing any signs of deterioration. the straws have been tested/soaked over a period of 8 hours and still fully maintain their function.

100% Non-Toxic

Microplastic contamination from straws is harmful to all life. All the materials, including the inks, used in our paper drinking straws are 100% non-toxic

Designed for longevity

Our paper drinking straws are designed to perform. We've tested our straws in a broad variety of refreshments.

Our paper straws are free of toxins, meaning no flavours are passed from straw to drink.

We are facing a catastrawphe - hundreds of billions of plastic straws are used globally, damaging ecosystems, killing wildlife and contributing to the pollution of our atmosphere. How did we get here? What can we do about it?

“The very first plastic straw you used is still somewhere on this planet. Somewhere. It will never break down - and it will never go 'away'.” – Molly Steer

Hundreds of billions of plastic drinking straws are used globally. They are lightweight, non-recyclable and are easily ... In other words, Plastic Straws Suck!

BENEFITS OF USING RAPOS PAPER STRAWS OVER PLASTIC.

Paper straws have many benefits including:

They are biodegradable unlike plastic straws.
They only take about two to six weeks to completely decompose unlike plastic straws that can take 200 years.
Moving to paper straws will automatically reduce the number of plastic straws used resulting in a smaller footprint.

The main argument for using paper straws instead of plastic ones is that paper is biodegradable. This means that it can naturally be broken down and won’t end up floating in our oceans or being swallowed by turtles. However, the fix isn’t as simple as swapping plastic for paper.

Today, more and more companies as well as people are switching to paper straws because they are durable and affordable. Choosing paper over plastic is not only an eco-friendly option, but also safe, too.

The Benefits of Using Paper Straws over Plastic Straws

Paper straws are aquatic-life friendly. According to a study, they break down within 6 months, implying that they are better for wildlife than using plastic straws.

Kids Party and Colored Paper Straws

Colorful plates and glasses have long been used for kids’ parties, but colored paper straws have been seen in recent times. Make every kid’s party more colorful with the colored paper straws!

Why Are Paper Straws Being Preferred Over Plastic Ones:

By using paper straws over plastic straws we can save our environment to a great extent. Hence, do not underestimate their contribution and always go for paper straws over plastic ones.

How Durable Are Paper Drinking Straws?

If the liquid is below 50 degrees, paper straws last for more than two hours under normal usage. Thus paper straws are a great alternative for plastic drinking straws and cannot be discarded on the basis of durability as they last long enough to be used with beverages.

Why should you opt for Paper Drinking Straws

Because of significant environmental awareness, companies and people have chosen paper straws instead of plastic ones, as it is an eco-friendly alternative

Paper Drinking Straws - Pick On Us

Paper Drinking Straws

http://Our variety of paper, agave, and cocktail straws are sure to wow your ... care about the environment by using high-quality paper straws at your next event.

Make the Switch to Rapos Paper Straw

All around the world, public attitudes to single-use plastic products and packaging are changing. Research from New York University found that consumers are increasingly rewarding brands offering sustainable products. Meanwhile, across the EU, disposable plastic straws are restricted from 2021 – and other countries are following suit.

Take the opportunity to transform your production line to compostable and sustainable paper straws. At Rapos Paper Straws, we are uniquely placed to help you make the transition.

RAPOS PAPER STRAWS!