OneLessStraw Resources
Thank you for your interest in reducing your plastic footprint. Saying no to single use plastic straws is an easy way to make a difference. Below we have links to various resources which will help you further your impact. We have informational content about plastic straws, about plastic bags and single use plastics in general.
If you are looking for alternatives to single use plastic straws, we have that as well. If you are looking for curricula that can be shared with students and teachers around the country, we have that as well. Browse around and if you are looking for something in particular and can not find it, just send us an email and we will help you with that as well.
Thanks again from all of us at Team OneLessStraw.
Videos About Harms of Plastic Straws and Marine Debris
This video can be hard to watch but it does have a happy ending and it is the reality of what happens when single use plastics end up in our environment. Scientists believe that this poor sea turtle accidentally swallowed a plastic straw and then tried to spit it back out and it became lodged in his nostril.
Fortunately, he was found by a group of caring students who cared enough to help him out. We encourage you to watch this video and share with your students so they too understand what often happens when we do not properly recycle our plastic trash. The truth be said, plastic straws are deemed ‘too cost prohibitive’ to be recycled so 100% of all plastic straws we use end up in our environment.
Here is a short PSA about the need to save our oceans from our OneLessStraw Partners at “Thank You Ocean”
Alternative Products to Plastic Straws and Other Cool Products
Here, in no particular order are links to various organizations we work with offering non plastic straw alternatives and articles on why we should all make the switch:
Simply Straws – makers of high quality reusable glass drinking straws
The Rubbish Whisperer offers a host of plastic free products that are sure to help you reduce your plastic footprint.
Non-Plastic Straws: Healthy Alternatives to Regular Drinking Straws
GlassDharma – makers of high quality reusable glass drinking straws.
BambuHome – makers of bamboo straw alternatives that are both stylish and practical.
One Ocean Ohana – makers of reusable straw pouch with steel straws. Also see their Facebook page.
Stainless Steel reusable drinking straws from our friends at Life Without Plastic.
DrinkingStraws.glass – makers of decorative high quality glass drinking straws.
Strawesome – glass drinking straws.
Life Without Plastic – offers great alternatives to plastic
U•KONSERVE – offers a wide array of awesome products that help you avoid using plastic. U•Konserve is the result of two mothers’ struggle to be environmentally conscious as their families grew… Check out their Special Offer
Koffee Straw – offers a unique reusable silicon straw that allows you to enjoy your hot beverage without staining your teeth or adding to the plastic straw consumption.
StrawFree.org Bamboo Straws – Tackling the global plastic problem — one bamboo straw at a time — Proceeds from the sale of StrawFree.org’s bamboo straws support education and outreach efforts about the impact of plastic straws on the environment. Please note, each straw is made by hand, and will vary slightly in color and size.
Plastic and Recycling Awareness Curriculum
Check out the award winning Plastic and Recycling Awareness Curriculum our two young founders authored as they learned about the problem with plastic pollution. The week long program has been successfully executed in dozens of schools here in the US and has also been tested in a school in South Africa and will soon be introduced in the UK and Australia. Written to match the latest National and State Standards for science, we also have math, literacy, and art infused throughout.
Info About Single Use Plastics
We know some types of plastics are necessary in our day to day lives and as long as the plastic/item will be used for many years, we agree there in a need for it. The area of plastics that we are focusing on are products made for a single use. In other words, made to be used once and then thrown away. Plastic straws are a perfect example of an item that we could live without yet millions of us blindly use them everyday. Single use plastic shopping bags, plastic cutlery and styrofoam cups and plates are also types of plastic products that we could manage without. The links below will help you better understand the harms of using single use plastics and hopefully help persuade you to seek alternatives or to just stop using them:
Miscellaneous articles about the dangers of using plastics and ways to reduce plastic waste:
A report from the United Nations warns that the tiny pieces of plastic from plastic bags, bottles and clothes are one of the most dangerous environmental problems facing the world today. They present a serious threat to human health and marine ecosystems.
Green Guide for Kids and Adults at Home – Assurance for a Healthy Earth by US Insurance Agents
Biodegradable plastic ‘false solution’ for ocean waste problem – a report by The Guardian
What is PLA and is it really better than plastics made from petroleum? PLA is something that is not a viable solution to the plastic pollution problem and it also misleads consumers to thinking that plastic #7’s are recyclable. While the production of most of Bioplastics results in reduced carbon dioxide emissions compared to traditional petroleum based plastics, there are some concerns that the production of a bioeconomy could contribute to an accelerated rate of deforestation if not managed effectively.
Is the ‘reign of recycling’ really over? This is a well written article that helps explain why we cannot walk away from recycling by Tom Szaky, Guest Writer for TreeHugger
Plastic GYRE Symposium: Artists, Scientists and Activists Respond as reported in Elemental Impact on-line magazine
Leaching of plastic additives to marine organisms – by Marine Environmental Research
In Press, Corrected Proof — Interaction between loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and marine litter in Sardinia– by Marine Environmental Research
Plastic litter in the sea – by Marine Environmental Research
These fish are eating the plastic you throw into the ocean… by The Grist
Marine Plastic Pollution in Waters around Australia: Characteristics, Concentrations, and Pathways – by http://www.plosone.org/
How Plastic Pollution Can Carry Flame Retardants Into Your Sushi – Smithsonia.com
Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress – by Scientific Reports
Information about harms caused by plastic bags:
Catalyst ABC TV – Plastic Oceans… a documentary about plastic harms on marine life
Plastic Cow… a documentary about what is happening to cows in India
Biodegradable plastic: What you need to know by the Mother Nature Network
Rare sea turtles eating plastic at record rate by the Mother Nature Network
The Silent Killer by Mrs. Green’s World
Young green turtles, Chelonia mydas, exposed to plastic in a frontal area of the SW Atlantic
Life in the “Plastisphere” Microbial Communities on Plastic Marine Debris by Environmental Science & Technology
Waiter, Why Does My Fish Taste Like Plastic? – by Kristina Chew
Jeremy Irons: public need to take responsibility for plastic waste problem – Guardian Environment Network
Phthalates – Fact-sheet by the CDC
Contaminated Diet Contributes to Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Phthalates and BPA – by Science Daily
Plastic-Free Doesn’t Mean BPA-Free – by Kristina Chew
As main meal for sperm whales: Plastics debris — by Science Direct
6 Tragic Tales of Animals Who Died After Swallowing Plastic — by Kristina Chew
Polystyrene (What is Polystyrene?)
Chick-fil-A insists on serving use Styrofoam by Lisa Kaas Boyle
The following information comes from our friends at Surfrider: Polystyrene comes in various forms, check out the Polystyrene Page on Beachapedia for details on the differences between polystyrene, expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam foodware or packaging, and Styrofoam. Most polystyrene ordinances only cover EPS foam foodware but some cover other EPS items and/or all polystyrene (#6) foodware items.
Article ASAP — Polystyrene Plastic A Source and Sink for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Marine Environment by Environmental Science & Technology
Here is the letter the folks at 5 Gyres sent to the city of New York regarding their consideration of setting up a recycling program for Styrofoam:Why DART Corp’s Bribe To New York’s City Council Won’t Stop Polystyrene In The Environment
Check out the Rise Above Plastics program page to find more info on plastic pollution and how to get involved in plastic litter reductions.
Websites with great tips for using less plastic in your life and living greener:
A Recycling or Contamination Crisis? an article series by Elemental Impact
Plastic alternatives that really work. Do you know what BAGASSE is? Check this link out from Eco Kloud
Meet the Greens Activity Guide is a great site with real tips families can immediately use to be more green.
The Plastic Ocean Project (POP) POP is bringing the best and brightest leaders to the table to take on the challenge of removing plastics from our oceans while creating sustainable businesses in the process.
Iron Pipe vs. PVC Pipe Video – This is from our friends at the Clean Water Action Network
10 EASY WAYS TO USE LESS PLASTIC
What do those “Recycle” numbers on plastic really mean anyway?
If you have additional resources you would like to share with is, please let us know by sending us an email at info@onemoregeneration.org and thank you for your support. 😉
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