On Feb. 10 local time, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to promote the use of plastic straws, effectively ending the Biden administration's plan to phase out plastic straws in favor of paper ones within the federal government. Trump argued that paper straws, favored by environmentalists, "don't work" and are short-lived, often breaking or failing when used with hot liquids, while the impact of plastic straws on marine life is minimal.
The executive order directs federal agencies to stop purchasing paper straws and to ensure that they are no longer provided in government facilities. Additionally, it requires the development of a national strategy to terminate the use of paper straws within 45 days, aiming to alleviate the mandatory usage of paper straws across various states, cities, and businesses.
Trump stated, "We're going back to plastic straws," emphasizing that paper straws are not practical. He recounted his experiences with them, noting their tendency to break and their inability to withstand hot liquids for long. He also claimed that plastic does not significantly harm sharks.
The content of Trump's executive order highlights what he perceives as "irrational" opposition to plastic straws, which has led many states, cities, and businesses to ban them or stop providing them with drinks. He noted that paper straws often have lower functionality and could contain chemicals that pose risks to human health, with production costs exceeding those of plastic straws. Trump's order pointed out that some paper straws are even wrapped in plastic, contradicting their environmental protection intent.
Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with paper straws for years. During his 2020 presidential campaign, his team raised nearly US$500,000 by selling reusable plastic straws at US$15 per pack.
In 2024, President Biden ordered a gradual phase-out of single-use plastics in federal government food services, events, and packaging by 2027, with plans to eliminate them in all other federal operations by 2035. On Feb. 7, Trump announced his intention to block Biden's directive promoting paper straws, reiterating that they are impractical and declaring a return to the plastic era.
The U.S. uses over 390 million straws daily. In response to Trump's decision, 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." Conversely, the animal protection organization Turtle Island Restoration Network noted that the U.S. uses more than 390 million straws daily, most of which are used within 30 minutes. A single straw can take at least 200 years to decompose, and as they break down into microplastics, they threaten sea turtles and other wildlife.
According to data from the United Nations Environment Programme, over 400 million tons of new plastic are produced globally each year, with more than 90% of plastic products derived from fossil fuels, releasing greenhouse gases and hazardous pollutants that contribute to global warming. Additionally, at least 14 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, endangering marine life that may ingest or become entangled in plastic debris, leading to suffocation, starvation, or drowning.
In 2015, marine biologists in Costa Rica discovered a sea turtle with a hard plastic straw lodged in its nostril. They extracted the 15-centimeter straw, which had been embedded in the turtle's respiratory tissue for an unknown duration. This incident garnered global attention and became a turning point for promoting paper straws, leading to strong calls from environmental groups for a ban on plastic straws. Seattle became the first city in the world to ban plastic straws in 2018.
Research from the University of Antwerp in Belgium in 2023 found that 90% of paper straws on the market contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), synthetic chemicals known for their stability. These substances are found in non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, grease-resistant food packaging, and waterproof clothing, and prolonged exposure can harm human health. PFAS are also called "forever chemicals" due to their long decomposition time. Experts note that while PFAS concentrations in straws are low, they can accumulate in the body over time, potentially leading to adverse effects.
Trump has previously described climate change as a "hoax" and after returning to the White House, issued a series of environmental executive orders, including withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change and pledging to continue oil drilling. Environmental organizations have criticized Trump for pretending to be a populist while favoring large oil companies on public interest issues.
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