 "Wrapped plastic straws are seen at a cafe in San Francisco. AP/File Photo")
Donald Trump is against paper straws.
The US President has now banned the federal use of paper straws.
Instead, he wants the government to switch entirely to plastic.
He has signed an executive order reversing a policy introduced by the Biden administration, which aimed to phase out federal purchases of single-use plastics, including straws, from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027.
“It’s a ridiculous situation. We’re going back to plastic straws,” Trump said at the White House after he signed the order.
But why did he sign the executive order? And why is Trump against paper straws?
Let’s find out:
Why Trump is banning paper straws
Speaking at the White House about paper straws, Trump said, “These things don’t work.”
“I’ve had them many times, and on occasion, they break, they explode.”
The executive order directs federal agencies to stop purchasing paper straws “and otherwise ensure that paper straws are no longer provided within agency buildings.”
“We’re going back to plastic straws,” Trump said.
Trump has long criticised paper straws. During his 2019 re-election campaign, he sold Trump-branded reusable plastic straws for $15 per pack of 10.
Although plastic straws have been blamed for contaminating oceans and hurting marine life, Trump said on Monday that he believes “it’s OK” to keep using them. “I don’t think that plastic is going to affect the shark very much as they’re eating, as they’re munching their way through the ocean,” he said at the White House.
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He made similar remarks in 2020 on the campaign trail. “They want to ban straws. Has anyone tried those paper straws? They’re not working too good.”
“It disintegrates as you drink it.”
During his unsuccessful 2020 re-election campaign, he marketed plastic straws as an alternative to what he called “liberal” paper straws.
According to BBC, the campaign made nearly $500,000 from straw sales within the first few weeks.
Trump vs Biden on plastic
Former US President Joe Biden had said that his policy of phasing out single-use plastics was a crucial step in reducing plastic pollution by leveraging the US government’s purchasing power.
Globally, plastic waste has faced criticism for contributing to ocean pollution and endangering birds, sea mammals, and other animals that can become trapped in discarded plastic.
However, efforts to promote paper straws over plastic have been met with opposition from Trump and his allies in conservative circles. They argue that paper straws are ineffective and view the policy as government overreach that ignores consumer preference.
In a Truth Social post, Trump declared that Biden’s “mandate” for paper straws was now dead: “Enjoy your next drink without a straw that disgustingly dissolves in your mouth!!!”
Biden’s initiative to limit throwaway plastics, such as straws and sachets, in federal agencies sought to address the growing problem of plastic pollution, with the US government being one of the world’s largest consumers of goods.
Trump, a well-known fan of Diet Coke - so much so that he installed a button in the Oval Office to summon staff to bring him a drink has long opposed restrictions on plastic straws.
The crisis of plastic pollution
Notably, global plastic production has doubled since 2000, reaching around 460 million tonnes annually, and is projected to quadruple by 2050.
Every minute, the equivalent of one garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the ocean, coming from items such as plastic bags, toothbrushes, bottles, and food packaging. As these materials degrade, microplastics are being found in fish, birds, and other wildlife, as well as in human blood and tissue.
Currently, less than 10% of plastic waste is being recycled. The rest eventually pollutes the environment and experts estimate that a truckload of plastic waste is dumped into the ocean every minute. Single-use plastics, including straws, account for about 40% of total plastic production.
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Over 90% of plastic products are made from fossil fuels like oil and natural gas, and millions of tonnes of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans each year. Many multinational companies have phased out plastic straws and prioritised reducing plastic use as part of their sustainability efforts, making Trump’s decision an exception in the business world.
The plastics industry has welcomed Trump’s move.
“Straws are just the beginning,” Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association, said in a statement.
“‘Back to Plastic’ is a movement we should all get behind.”
According to the advocacy group Straws Turtle Island Restoration Network, plastic straws take at least 200 years to decompose and are a serious threat to turtles and other wildlife as they break down into microplastics.
Globally, countries are working on a treaty to tackle plastic pollution. Leaders met for a week in South Korea late last year but failed to reach an agreement. Talks will resume this year, with over 100 countries seeking a pact that addresses plastic production limits, cleanup efforts, and recycling.
The US, China, and Germany dominate the global plastics trade. American manufacturers have urged Trump to stay at the negotiating table and return to Biden’s previous approach, which focused on redesigning plastic products, recycling, and reusing.
With inputs from agencies