Paper or plastic? The debate rages on.

The White House’s decision to scrap paper straws in favour of plastic is making headlines. The administration argues that paper straws are weak, expensive and potentially harmful. Critics counter that bringing back plastic straws ignores the bigger environmental crisis.

But here’s the real question: Why are we still talking about straws?

This is yet another example of missing the forest for the trees – or in this case, the landfill for the straw. The obsession with swapping one material for another distracts us from the real issue: our addiction to disposability.

A plastic straw won’t single-handedly destroy the planet. A paper straw won’t save it. The real problem is the sheer volume of single-use everything – straws, cups, cutlery, packaging. Swapping one disposable item for another just changes where the waste ends up.

Imagine if we redirected all this energy into tackling systemic waste. Investing in reusable solutions. Designing materials that break down naturally. Rethinking the ‘take, make, waste’ model instead of endlessly debating which version of ‘waste’ is slightly better.

The great straw debate is a convenient distraction. It makes people feel like something is being done, while the bigger problem – runaway consumption – continues unchecked.

If we’re serious about sustainability, we need to stop getting lost in the details and start changing the system. Because the real issue isn’t what kind of straw you’re using.

It’s whether we need one at all.

What will you do now that you know?

Simon

Ps. Here’s a website dedicated to ‘Straw Wars’