1.) Selected Opportunity: Plastic straws can’t be recycled like a lot of other plastics and millions of them are thrown away daily which negatively effects our environment—especially our oceans and coasts. Plastic straws are used in restaurants, fast food establishments, coffee shops, and many others. They are also used by people at home and in juice drinks that can be purchased in the grocery store. There is a need for an alternative that can be recycled, reused, or biodegradable in order to stop the negative affects plastic straws have on our environment.
2.) My Solution: The product I believe will help solve this problem is to create a straw out of hemp and corn because it is biodegradable and therefore won't have negative environmental effects on our oceans and coasts. The plastic-like material is made from natural ingredients that can biodegrade, leaving no negative trace on our environment, and can also be recycled (unlike normal plastic straws) for a quicker positive effect. I think this is the best solution to this problem because it will be an easy way for establishments that sell beverages to switch from normal plastic straws to these all natural straws. That way, we won't have to rely on individuals to find an alternative because it will already be done for them wherever they purchase from. I think over time it should be a law to only use hemp materials instead of regular plastic for many products in the food and beverage industry. This will cut back on fossil-fuel emissions created from producing plastic products, and on normal plastic waste in our environment.
Ideas that takes care of the world we live in fascinates me. The downside is that industries face many challenges trying to adopt new raw materials for the products they are used to produce in enormous quantities. This is an idea I would like to be subsided by the government. My vision is supported by the difficulty companies would go through changing its sources and that we would be contributing for a greater good as a leading nation.
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea for using hemp/corn instead of plastic. My only concern is if it degrades similar to paper that could not be the most useful replacement. However, if it is sturdier than paper and you can use it for multiple hours before it starts disintegrating than I think this could really help out our environment! I really do believe we need to take better care of our environment. I know that if I have the chance to not use a straw then I do not use one. But I know some people need them and I am excited to see a greener alternative.
ReplyDeleteI liked your idea of using hemp/corn instead of plastic. It is a great solution that would help the environment and it will help people make a conscious change on what they consume. Paper straws are already a solution to this, but they disintegrate very quickly, and no one wants pieces of paper in their drinks. Therefore, I think that this would be the best solution to reduce waste.
ReplyDeleteHey Madi,
ReplyDeleteI really love this idea. I think it is great that you thought of it! I have never heard of something like that before. I hope someone actually starts making those because it sounds like it could really help our environment, and perhaps, start a new movement. I wonder how cost-effective it would be to make them, instead of using plastic.