There is one area where I could control the plastic that is brought in, and that is with straws. Does that mean I am making a difference? Not in terms of manufacturing. Companies will still make the same amount, which is something that the zero-waste community doesn’t really discuss. Many people in the zero-waste/low-waste community give the impression that a refusal of products means that the company all of a sudden will make less of it. That’s not quite how it works, but that is for another post. Back to the straws: I have boba straws and regular, glass and metal, plus some bamboo straws (I’m not a fan of the bamboo type). Now, I do know that some people need to use plastic straws for medical reasons, which I have no objection to. If you are one who does, you shouldn’t feel bad about needing them, either.