The Betrayal of Paper Straws? Comparing Environmental Impacts

First up, useful news.

It is the betrayal of paper straws.

We have plastic straws and paper straws.

Which one is more eco-friendly?

I naturally thought it would be paper straws.

However, the survey results I am about to share are a bit different.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment compared the environmental impacts of four types of disposable straws, including plastic, paper, and biodegradable straws.

A total of 16 categories were evaluated, spanning from production to disposal.

Among them, conventional plastic straws showed the lowest environmental impact in 10 categories.

On the other hand, paper and biodegradable straws were also found to impose a heavy environmental burden depending on the category.

As a result, there was no single straw that was the most eco-friendly across all criteria.

Given this, opinions are emerging that ultimately, rather than focusing on which material of straw to use, reducing the use of disposable straws altogether is what matters most.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.