Bars in Italy Are Using Pasta Straws to Get Rid of Plastic Waste

Lately, companies have caused a stir (see what I did there?) by getting rid of plastic straws or only distributing them when customers specifically ask for them.

In Italy, bars and restaurants are now using pasta straws for drinks to cut down on plastic waste. What could be more Italian than drinking out of a pasta straw?!?!

Here in Italy bars are starting to use pasta as straws to reduce plastic use. Our technology amazes the world another time. from europe

The European Union voted to ban single-use plastic items by 2021, and it looks like the Italians are getting a head start.

Interestingly, there’s already a company in the UK called Stroodles that sells pasta straws. Maxim Gelmann, the founder of the company said, “Stroodles is not just a straw company and there is a much bigger picture, as I feel I can leave a long-term impact by creating a ripple effect by triggering many small changes all across the world, especially among people that are less conscious of sustainability and their respective actions and behaviors.”

??? Stroodles team at the Improving Air Quality in Mayfair event by @newwestendcompany

Posted by Stroodles- Pasta Straws on Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Gelmann added,

“The approach is to do this in a fun and non-preachy, non-finger-pointing manner. I rather aim for people to engage with a Stroodle and then themselves start asking themselves the right questions, like ‘Why is there a pasta straw in my drink?’ Thus, little realizations like that and them coming to their own conclusions, rather than being sold/preached. [It’s] much more powerful in creating behavioral and mindsets change. And … maybe next time one is offered a plastic bag, they will behave differently.”

I haven’t seen these in the U.S. yet, but maybe they’ll be coming soon?

The next step? Let’s work on getting pasta cups!

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Seattle Becomes the First U.S. City to Ban Plastic Straws

I have a feeling a lot of other cities (and possibly countries) are going to get on board this train sooner or later. And in the end, it will be better for all of us. Seattle, Washington became the first American city to altogether ban plastic straws on July 1, 2018.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Seattle banned plastic utensils as well on July 1. The plastic straw ban can result in a $250 fine to restaurants. The disastrous effects of plastic straws on our environment have been well documented as of late, and this can only be seen as a step in the right direction.

Photo Credit: Upslash,@jontyson

Customers will still be able to request compostable plastic or paper straws, but both of those items still pose environmental problems. Let’s see how many other U.S. cities follow suit.

Photo Credit: iStock

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