US President Donald Trumpꦍ is taking action to roll back federal efforts to reduce plastic straw use, stating that paper straws don’t work and signing an executive order to reinstate plastic straws. As per reports, Trump's order, issued February 10, emphasized his stance: “It's a ridiculous situation. We're going back to plastic straws.”
This latest move targets a Biden🐭 administration policy aimed at phasing out federal purchases of single-use plastics — including straws — from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, with a complete ban across all federal operations by 2035.
☂Trump, a vocal critic of paper straws, even sold Trump-branded reusable plastic straws for $15 per pack during his 2019 reelection campaign. On his Truth Social platform, he declared President Biden's policy “DEAD!” and encouraged followers to “Enjoy your next drink without a straw that disgustingly dissolves in your mouth!!!”
Meanwhile, many states in USA✱ and cities have moved to ban plastic straws due to their environmental impact, particularly their role in polluting oceans and waterways and harming marine life. However, plastic straws are just a small part of a larger environmental issue involving single-use plastics like water bottles, takeout containers, coffee lids, and shopping bags.
Experts Sound The Alarm
🌞Experts warn that a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the ocean every minute, and as it breaks down, it creates microplastics that have been found in fish, birds, animals, and even human blood and tissue. Plastic production also contributes to the release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, as over 90% of plastic products are made from fossil fuels like oil and natural gas. Despite these dangers, many companies have phased out plastic straws and are prioritizing sustainability, making Trump's position a rare exception in the business world.
𓄧Christy Leavitt, plastics campaign director for the environmental organization Oceana, criticized Trump's move, saying it was more about messaging than finding real solutions. She emphasized that most U.S. voters support efforts to reduce single-use plastics and called for action to combat the growing plastic pollution crisis.
🐻“Plastic is everywhere,” Leavitt said, pointing to its widespread presence in the oceans, remote coastlines, Arctic ice, and even the ocean floor.
﷽While the plastic manufacturing industry hailed Trump's decision, with Matt Seaholm, president of the Plastics Industry Association, describing the return to plastic straws as “just the beginning,” environmental advocates caution about the long-term consequences. The group Straws Turtle Island Restoration Network pointed out that more than 390 million plastic straws are used every day in the U.S., most for less than 30 minutes. These straws can take over 200 years to decompose and pose a serious threat to marine wildlife, particularly sea turtles.
🍨Globally, over 400 million tons of new plastic are produced each year, with around 40% used in packaging. In response, international leaders are working on a treaty to tackle plastic pollution, having met in South Korea late last year to discuss measures to limit plastic production, enhance recycling, and improve cleanup efforts. Negotiations will continue this year as more than 100 countries work toward an agreement.
𒈔The U.S., China, and Germany are major players in the global plastics trade, with U.S. manufacturers urging Trump to remain involved in international talks and adopt a more sustainable approach that focuses on redesigning plastic products and improving recycling and reuse.
With inputs from AP.
