Ineffectively complaining about corporations and changing your own life are not the only two options. That is a conveniently simplified view that just serves to make everyone feel better about using paper straws.

A third option is to try to make effective change. Real change requires significant investment of energy, time and maybe money. Lobbying, campaigning, making noise, seeking and rallying larger groups of people; politics. Make youtube videos, radio shows, interviews - chain yourself to a tree, whatever… Any of those are better than recycling unrecyclable plastic.

Making meaningful change in a society is hard work. You can’t just keep living your life and pat yourself on the back just because you stopped buying that one Néstle product you know about.