10 Fun Things to Use Instead of Plastic Straws

Disney, Starbucks and the state of California have all decided to say “no thanks” to plastic straws. It’s Earth-friendly to skip the plastic straws at home, too!

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Steel straw
Amazon / YIHONG

Stainless Steel

You don’t have to ban all straws—how about trading your plastic straws for this stainless steel set? The straws can be used—and reused!—for cold drinks in your tumbler, drinking glass or travel mug. Here’s why plastic straws are disappearing from restaurants.

You’re not imagining this- check why drinks taste better with a straw

You’re not imagining things—drinks really do taste better with a straw.

Purchase here.

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Hiware 500-Pack Biodegradable Bulk Paper Straws - 10 Different Colors Rainbow Stripe Paper Drinking Straws - Paper Straws for Juices, Shakes, Smoothies, Party Supplies Decorations
Amazon / Hiware

Paper Straws

For a disposable straw, paper is your best bet. Plastic straws aren’t recyclable—and won’t break down in a landfill—but paper straws like this are biodegradable. This set of paper drinking straws comes in a gorgeous rainbow of colors!

Purchase here.

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Contigo AUTOSPOUT Straw Ashland Water Bottle, 24oz, Smoke
Amazon / Contigo

Straw Water Bottle

Skip the straw altogether and use this Contigo water bottle with a pop-up straw. It’s leak-proof, too, which makes this a good option for anyone who loves to bring water to work or take a daily walk. Take your beverage up a notch with these infused water ideas.

Purchase here.

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Jarware 82615 Drink Lid for Regular Mouth Mason Jars, Orange
Amazon / Jarware

Drinking Lid for Mason Jars

Turn a regular mouth Mason jar into an adorable on-the-go mug! This cute drink lid snaps open and closed so your morning cup of coffee won’t drip all over. It’s made from recycled materials and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

Purchase here.

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Reusable Plastic Straws
Amazon / Senfhome

Hard Plastic Drinking Straws

This set of hard plastic drinking straws doesn’t completely solve the plastic problem but they are durable and reusable. Like other straw sets, they come with a bristly brush that makes cleaning easy.

Purchase here.

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Starbucks Cold Cup Venti 24 oz
Amazon / Starbucks

Starbucks Venti Cold Cup

This Venti-sized tumbler holds 24 ounces of Starbucks cold brew or any other tasty iced beverage. The reusable cup’s double wall construction helps keep your iced tea or coffee cool, and its reusable straw is hard to lose. By bringing in any personal cup to Starbucks, you qualify for a $.10 discount, too!

Purchase here.

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YETI Rambler 30 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler w/MagSlider Lid
Amazon / YETI

Yeti with Slide-Top Lid

The Yeti Rambler is definitely a splurge, but you may never buy another straw again. Yeti has a MagSlider lid that uses magnets to keep your water, coffee or soda locked in. The best thing about this cup might be that it can be used for hot or cold beverages.

Purchase here.

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Soft Silicone Straws
Amazon / ALINK

Soft Silicone Straws

For anyone who has resisted using reusable straws because the glass or hard plastic hurts your teeth, this set of soft silicone straws is exactly what you need. They’re durable, flexible and can even be cut into different lengths so they fit your favorite cup perfectly.

Purchase here.

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Glass Straws
Amazon / JimJim

Glass Straws

This set of glass straws looks so sleek! The straws come both bent and straight, so you can grab whatever style works best for your cup or mug. The straws are transparent, so it’s easy to see whether they’re clean or not. Here’s why drinks really do taste better with a straw.

Purchase here.

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Jumbo straws
Amazon / Softy Straws

Jumbo Straws

Each straw in this set is wider than a regular straw, which makes it ideal for smoothies and milkshakes. They’re made from silicone, so they’re soft and won’t chip your kiddo’s teeth. You can use the straws with a regular drinking glass or tumbler, or cut them down to size so they work for a toddler’s cup.

Purchase here.

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Demitri's Bloody Mary Pepperoni Straws - 5 Count
Amazon / Demitri's

Bonus: Pepperoni Straws

Here’s a straw that’s 100% environmentally friendly because there’s no waste—you’re going to eat the whole thing! This box of pepperoni straws is tasty, smoky and exactly what you need for a Bloody Mary during brunch.

Purchase here.

Lara Eucalano
Lara is a senior editor for Taste of Home who manages a supremely talented community of freelancers. She assigns and edits content about cooking techniques, kitchen tools and, of course, food trends. Prior to her work at Taste of Home, Lara spent a decade in the marketing field as a brand storyteller, content curator and project manager. In her nonwork life, Lara loves to read, garden and cook. (Not all at the same time!) Look for her at home in Milwaukee, keeping an eye on her mischievous flock of backyard chickens.