Eco-Alternatives To Plastic Drinking Straws

Plastic has done us no favors -- just look at this video footage of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or check out this article detailing the various plastic items that are tangled up in the middle of the ocean for all the proof you need.

While none of us really need straws in our life, they are definitely an integral part of our culture -- the fast food culture in particular -- plus, they're kind of handy when you've had dental work done or when you just feel like slurping your cares away and/or creating a jacuzzi effect in the bottom of your cup.

Rather than continue using the plastic kind, did you know that you could instead use a dishwasher safe glass version?

I know...you're probably thinking that it's a little risky -- believe me, I'm a major klutz myself and would be a little nervous about trusting myself to handle such a delicate item.

However, David Leonhardt's Glass Dharma creates mega-strong borosilicate glass straws (priced at $7.00 each) which are incredibly durable and as his website states, made with "the strongest glass commercially available."

Available in three styles (a simple streamlined version, an angled straw and one adorned with blue, green, amber, black or clear dots), Leonhardt sweetens the deal by offering a lifetime guarantee against breakage.

If you prefer to take extra precautions to ensure that your straw doesn't shatter, Glass Dharma also sells soft protective hemp sheaths and hard bamboo cases with a cork top -- the latter would probably be excellent for storage purposes.

On the other hand, you could always purchase a four pack of stainless steel straws from Greenward or Always Brilliant for around $10 and call it a day!