Clearly all the extra plastic in the world is a problem, and with over 500 million plastic straws being used every frickin' day there's an easy way to do our part in fighting for our planet's oceans, and it's not like it's a big change to make: use a resusable straw.
The Zoku Pocket Straw is a great example. Relatively inexpensive – you're just buying once, after all – the Zoku is made of stainless steel and expands from four inches to nine inches. Yeah, yeah, write your own joke you guttersnipes.
It's dishwasher safe, comes with its own carrying case with lanyard loop, and even includes a cleaning brush. BPA and phthalate-free, with a soft silicone mouthpiece, the Zoku Pocket Straw will be your new travel buddy. Bonus: it's a surprisingly effective way to get your campfire started, substituting for a full-on bellows.