As the world becomes more aware of the disadvantages of plastic, legislation is being implemented worldwide to ban plastic in various applications. This has led manufacturers to search for substitutes to replace plastic, and paper seems to be the obvious choice for straws. Paper is often seen as an ecological and natural material. But before you take your next sip through a paper straw, there are a few facts you should consider.
Paper Straws Contain More Than Just Paper
Unlike plastic, paper is not as strictly regulated for food contact. This means that paper straws can contain more than just paper. Glue is required to keep the straw in shape, and paper straws are often decorated with colorful stripes. However, these glues and dyes used in paper straws can dissolve in your drink and potentially be harmful to your health. Glue can even break down into microplastics. Additionally, paper straws are often coated to improve their water resistance, but these coatings have been found to contain toxic “perpetual chemicals” which can also dissolve in your drink. These chemicals have been linked to various diseases, including cancers and hormonal disorders.
Their Sogginess is Annoying – and a Possible Danger
Let’s be honest – drinking with a paper straw can be annoying. After just a few sips, the straw starts to soften, and soon enough, it becomes practically unusable. It becomes a race against the clock to finish your drink before the straw turns to mush. Moreover, the taste of wet paper is not enjoyable. The longer the straw sits in your cup, the more your drink tastes like a damp newspaper. While this is unpleasant for most of us, it can be a choking hazard for small children and people with disabilities.
They’re Not Necessarily Recyclable and Definitely Not Reusable
One of the main principles of an eco-friendly lifestyle is reuse, but paper straws are single-use disposable items. Unfortunately, you can’t use the same straw multiple times. While paper can be recycled, it’s more complex when it comes to straws. Paper can only be recycled once or twice before it breaks down too much to be useful. In some countries, if a paper straw has been in contact with food, it cannot be put in paper recycling. Additionally, due to the additives, dyes, and glues used, many paper straws on the market are not compostable either. Therefore, mixed waste becomes the only disposal method. If a paper straw with these commonly used additives leaks into the environment, it may leave behind microplastics and toxic substances.
Their Production Requires a Lot of Resources and Energy
Paper production is not environmentally friendly. It causes air and water pollution, generates large amounts of paper waste, emits high levels of greenhouse gases, and in some cases, contributes to deforestation. Paper production also uses more water per product than any other industry and is the fourth-largest industrial energy consumer worldwide.
Paper straws are made from trees that need to be cut down, shipped to a factory, pulped, and finally transformed into straws. This means that energy is consumed at every stage of the production process. While paper straws may be a better alternative to plastic, they still have a significant carbon footprint, especially considering they are thrown away after just a few minutes of use.
There is an Option, and It’s Called Sulapac
If you are looking for a sustainable, durable, and safe material for straws, allow us to introduce you to Sulapac Flow 1.7! Sulapac materials are both recyclable and compostable, leaving no permanent microplastics behind. They are a superior alternative to conventional paper straws.
Sulapac straws do not get soggy, so you won’t experience the annoyance of a deteriorating straw. They also do not add any unpleasant taste to your drink and contain zero harmful additives. Sulapac straws have been rigorously tested for PFAS compounds, and no PFAS compounds were detected.
Sulapac straws can be made with recycled content, reducing the need for first-generation materials. The wood used in Sulapac straws is sourced from responsibly managed forests and industry side streams. In the future, Sulapac will explore the use of other highly innovative fillers, considered as 3rd generation feedstock.
When it comes to finding a truly sustainable and circular solution, look no further than Sulapac.
Sulapac Ltd is dedicated to accelerating the transition to a plastic waste-free future by replacing conventional plastic with beautiful and functional sustainable materials. Founded in 2016 by three scientists, Dr. Suvi Haimi, Dr. Laura Tirkkonen-Rajasalo, and Dr. Antti Pärssinen, Sulapac has been recognized as one of Europe’s hottest startups by WIRED UK in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Investors such as CHANEL and Sky Ocean Ventures support the award-winning, patented material innovation. Join the forerunners at sulapac.com.