Trump and Plastic Straws

I run a reusable straw brand here in the UK, because I hate soggy paper straws!

Paper straws go soggy and they collapse halfway through a drink . I knew there had to be something better, something that actually worked and did not add to the plastic problem. So I built it.

The UK banned plastic straws back in 2020, which mattered, but it did not magically fix everything. Plastic waste is still everywhere, and progress can feel fragile. That is why watching the conversation in the US shift backwards is so frustrating. The decision under Trump to loudly push plastic straws again feels like a step in the wrong direction. The previous plan to phase out single use plastics across federal operations was not perfect, but it was at least movement. That momentum now looks like it has stalled. And the slogan about bringing back plastic straws is odd anyway, because they never really went away in many states.

Plastic pollution keeps growing. Huge amounts of waste end up in oceans and landscapes every single day. Microplastics are now in food, in water, even inside our bodies, which still feels surreal when you stop and think about it. Disposable items like plastic straws might seem small, but they add up fast. Billions of pieces, used for minutes, hanging around for centuries.

I was recently in the US and spent time talking with independent retailers about sustainability, materials, and what customers are actually asking for. Those conversations were genuinely encouraging. As a result, my brand will soon be stocked in a number of independent American stores, which still feels slightly unreal as I write it. There is a strong appetite for better options. Yes, some states are further along than others, but many businesses are choosing paper or moving straight to reusable straws because they know customers care.

The UK has taken firmer action so far, banning plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds, but that does not mean we can relax. Demand for better alternatives keeps growing. People want products that feel good to use and align with their values. Reusable silicone, stainless steel, and bamboo straws are no longer niche. They are becoming normal, and that matters. Policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic should be supporting that shift, not undermining it.

I created this brand because I refuse to choose between soggy paper and harmful plastic. Reusable silicone straws sit in the middle, practical, durable, and genuinely better to live with. I think there is a clear way forward if we keep pushing for it. Slipping backwards would be a waste. We can do better, and we already know how.

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