Plastic straws, accompanying bottled drinks sold at convenience stores, are part of everyday life in Thailand. However, when in June a dead whale was found that had died after swallowing 80 plastic bags, public awareness of plastic waste grew, sparking a move away from the material.
Now Broccoli Revolution, a chain of two vegetarian restaurants, ceased offering plastic straws in May: they have switched to Chinese water spinach stems. The hollow stems are 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter. They are moderately hard and even a creamy smoothie can be slurped up through it. And when the smoothie is finished, the straw can be eaten.
Asia.nikkei.com reports that although cheaper paper straws are also an option, they would ultimately end up in the trash as well.
