US President Donald Trump signed a decree to revert to the use of plastic straws, criticizing the widespread adoption of paper straws. PLASFED President Ömer Karadeniz stated that this decision would accelerate the sector, emphasizing its importance for the future of the industry.
Recalling Trump’s remarks during the presidency of former President Joe Biden about paper straws, Trump noted that paper straws become deformed upon contact with food, while plastic straws are much more durable. PLASFED President Ömer Karadeniz mentioned that they find this statement significant for the future of the plastic industry, one of Turkey's most important export sectors.
Making statements to Anadolu Agency reporter Aylin Rana Aydin Kuş, the founding president of PLASFED stated, "Legal regulations aimed at protecting the environment bring more solutions rather than restrictions. A solution-oriented approach would be much more beneficial for everyone than a ban."
Karadeniz noted Trump’s critique of the promotion of paper straws, saying, "Trump stated that plastic straws would be used again. He expressed that paper straws do not work and deform immediately, highlighting that plastic straws are much more durable. We consider this statement significant for the future of the plastic industry, one of Turkey's leading export sectors."
Pointing out that straws made of paper can deform immediately upon contact with food and can cause damage to the nutrients, Karadeniz continued:
"To prevent the disruption of ecological balance, eco-friendly solutions must be researched. Certainly, every type of straw thrown into nature harms the environment. However, plastic straws can be recycled more easily compared to other materials. The resources obtained from recycling will undoubtedly contribute to the country’s economy."
Karadeniz indicated that the use of food-compatible plastic straws would be an ideal choice for a sustainable world, stating, "The most important thing to consider here is to act with a zero-waste principle and send plastic straws for recycling rather than disposal."
Emphasizing that a solution-oriented approach would be much more beneficial for everyone than a ban, Karadeniz remarked, "Efforts should be made towards a conscious human model, and if necessary, consumers should be informed through public service announcements. As you know, the importance of plastics emerged once again during the pandemic, and it was understood that single-use plastic materials saved lives from a health perspective."
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Recalling that in January, Turkey's plastic sector made 749 million 779 thousand dollars in exports, with 170 million dollars going to Slovenia, according to data from the Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters' Association, Karadeniz continued his speech:
Translated by Artificial Intelligence
