President Donald Trump has signed an executive order reinstating plastic straws in federal buildings, reversing a Biden administration policy that had phased out single-use plastics in favor of paper alternatives.“We’re going back to plastic straws,” Trump said from the Oval Office on Monday. “(Paper straws) don’t work. They break. They explode if something’s hot. It’s a ridiculous situation.”
The federal government is the largest buyer of straws in the U.S., using them in national parks, embassies, and federal buildings. Critics of paper straws, including talk show host Jon Stewart, welcomed the move, while environmental advocates warned it could open the door to wider use of single-use plastics.
Ken Jacobus, CEO of Good Start Packaging, called the debate over paper vs. plastic a distraction. “The industry has moved past this. There are better alternatives—biodegradable straws made from canola oil, for example.”
Trump previously signed the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act in 2020 to combat marine plastic waste. But on Monday, he dismissed concerns, saying, “I don’t think plastic is going to affect a shark much as they’re munching their way through the ocean.”
While some businesses like Starbucks have moved away from plastic straws, 75% of Americans believe they’ll have to make sacrifices due to climate change, according to Pew Research. Environmental advocates argue that the bigger issue is plastic waste filling landfills.
“Trump’s order doesn’t just bring back straws, it paves the way for plastic plates, cups, and Styrofoam,” Jacobus said. “That’s the real problem.”
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