https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa Made with a wink and a smile en-us 2018-12-06 15:28:18 UTC 2018-12-06 16:27:26 UTC hello@padlet.com jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311855091 Plastic straws have been a cause for concern with how it effects the oceans ecosystem and our own well being. The straws can be mistaken for food by marine life and could release harmful chemicals when ingested. With the worlds ever mounting forms of pollution, plastic straws may seem like a nothing burger but could have greater consequences if nothing is done about it.]]> 2018-12-06 15:30:05 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311855091 jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311859802 Starbucks recognized this issue and quickly started looking into ways of reducing their plastic straw usage. One of the ways Starbucks came up with was by going straw-less and using straw-less lids. This would not only reduce the plastic waste produced by straws but also cause other competitors to join them in the cause. Starbucks will be going to straw-less lids by 2020 and hopefully are the first of many companies to start going this route.]]> 2018-12-06 15:37:28 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311859802 jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311862306 The first paper straw was invented by Marvin Stone in 1888. This was made by coating a cylinder made of paper with paraffin to prevent any beverage from wrecking its shape so it could be used. These straws were biodegradable, though took longer than grass to completely decay. The first plastic straws were invented in the 1950-1960s and since they were so cheap to make took over the market. Fast forward to today and we have the pressing issue of going back to biodegradable straws to help protect the environment. Biodegradable straws would solve issues such as animals eating plastic straws and the chemicals seeping into their bodies while trying to digest them, the plastic pollution problem and reduce toxins from being passed down the food chain. On average around 500 million plastic straws are used daily. If biodegradable straws were used instead, they would decompose in and around roughly 180 days. For plastic straws this is more around 200 years to fully decompose.]]> 2018-12-06 15:41:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311862306 jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311872232 One of the biggest issues companies are having with trying to switch to biodegradable straws is the cost. Biodegradable straws carry a higher production cost since they aren't made with cheap materials. Plastic straws can cost as cheap as half a cent, while biodegradable straws might cost around two cents and a half. That is almost 10 times the cost. For some companies this could cause a big problem since they don't make as much money as the big companies such as Starbucks or McDonald's. Starbucks however is attempting to not even use straws but instead a biodegradable straw-less lid.]]> 2018-12-06 15:57:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311872232 jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311878030 With the worlds plastic pollution getting worse  each day, every step towards reducing it should be considered and tested. These innovations are hopefully just the start to a long and successful movement to start thinking more critically about the waste each of us produces each day. Something as simple as a plastic straw could actually have harmful effects not only on eco-systems or animals but you as well. It is not only up to the big companies to come up with innovations to solve plastic pollution problems but but everyone.]]> 2018-12-06 16:06:37 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311878030 jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311882119 Ell, Kellie. (2018), Paper straws cost 'maybe 10 times' more than plastic straws, says paper straw distributor. Retrieved from CNBC:https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/09/paper-straws-are-better-for-the-environment-but-they-will-cost-you.html

Stone Straw. http://www.stonestraw.com/history.html

Rochman, Bonnie. (2018), Straws are out, lids are in:Starbucks announces environmental milestone, Retrieved from:https://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-announces-environmental-milestone


]]> 2018-12-06 16:13:10 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311882119 jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311887462 2018-12-06 16:21:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311887462 jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311888145 2018-12-06 16:22:28 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311888145 jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311888867 2018-12-06 16:23:28 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311888867 jas_webber https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311891500 2018-12-06 16:27:07 UTC https://padlet.com/jas_webber/cijgkys2uxsa/wish/311891500