Plastic Straws: A Small Convenience with Big Consequences

When I was ten years old, I visited Matura Beach in northeast Trinidad with my family for turtle watching. While seeing the turtles up close was surreal, the experience stands out for another, more devastating reason. Our tour guide shared a story I remembered for years to come. She had rescued a turtle that had a plastic straw stuck inside its nose. The idea that one tiny plastic straw could cause so much harm to an animal gutted me. At the time, I found it disturbing, but I didn’t fully understand the severity of the situation. So, I continued using plastic straws, unaware of the larger impact. Now, at twenty, I understand the complex and troubling interconnections between plastic straws, human health, and marine ecosystems. This realisation motivated me to focus my anthropology project on the use of plastic straws, and their environmental and health impacts. My goal was to explore why, despite widespread awareness of their harmful effects, people still choose to use them. In my mini-ethnography, I found that some of my project participants were well-informed about the damaging consequences for both humans and marine life. They knew that plastic straws are often ingested by marine animals, causing choking, intestinal blockages, and even death. They were also aware that microplastics, often from degraded plastic straws, have been linked to serious health concerns in humans including cancers, reproductive problems, and immune system problems. But my interlocutors and peers continued to use plastic straws largely because of the convenience of use and lack of appealing alternatives like paper straws, they explained to me. These inconveniences made the switch to more eco-friendly options challenging for many. Plastic straws show how seemingly minor, small, everyday objects can have far-reaching, harmful effects on both marine and human life. Through my ethnographic project, I hope to raise awareness of the profound interconnections between plastic straws, humans, and marine ecosystems, while highlighting the urgency of addressing the growing threat of plastic straws. All types of straws have their drawbacks, but will we prioritise convenience, or will we help to drive change?

By Krystyne Hansen