Compostable Straw

No microplastics issue
After plastic enters the environment, it will gradually become brittle, degrade and break down in the sunlight. These broken plastics will turn into microplastics and reach every corner in the world through the water cycle, including rivers, lakes, and the oceans. Accumulated in the body of animals in these environments, the microplastics will eventually be swallowed by people along with fish, shrimp, and shellfish. Hazardous substances (e.g. heavy metals) can easily adhere to these microplastics, and this gives them the chance to enter and damage the body. By contrast, compostable straws can be naturally decomposed in the environment instead of becoming microplastics and getting in the body

Reduction of the volume of marine waste
In accordance with the statistics made by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), at least 14 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, accounting 80% of all marine waste. Most of these plastics are unproperly disposed waste from the land that entered the ocean through rivers or groundwater. They can harm marine animals by swallowing, suffocation and entanglement. Hence, the use of compostable straws can reduce the volume of marine waste as well as the negative impact on marine ecosystems caused by people.

Safe and non-toxic
Compostable straws are mostly made of plant-based materials, so they hardly generate toxic substances. On the contrary, plastic straws may contain chemical additives such as heat stabilizers, ultraviolet stabilizers, colorants and plasticizers during the manufacturing process, and these could be released due to abrasion, temperature changes or erosion of acid drinks when using the straws. At present, it is uncertain if these substances will harm the body over time, so compostable straws would be a safer choice.

Reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions
The source of plastic is petrochemical raw materials. First of all, crude oil needs to be transported from oil-producing countries to other countries across the ocean. After it is thermally fractionated and cracked in local processing plants, the plastic materials generated will be delivered to plastics manufacturing factories and then made into all kinds of plastic. This transportation and manufacturing process will produce large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG). The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) pointed out that in 2019, 18 billion tons of GHG were generated from plastics, which was 3.4% of the total GHG emitted globally. It is expected that 43 billion tons – more than twice the number at present – of GHG will be produced from plastics in 2060. This will further cause climate change. By using compostable straws, the demand for plastic can be reduced and further resulting in the decrease of GHG emissions.

Reduction of volume of waste
The issue of waste is facing every country around the world. Most waste enters landfills or incinerators and then causes soil, water, and air pollution during the handling process of decomposition or burning. Therefore, both facilities are NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) for local residents. According to the OECD's statistics, the recovery rate of global plastic waste only reaches 9%. Furthermore, small single-use plastic straws are almost impossible to recycle for reuse. As a result, compostable straws can help reduce the amount of waste and further mitigate the global waste problem.

Safety and hygiene
Besides compostable straws, one can also use reusable straws that can be recycled and made into other products, or cut the use of straws and drink from the cup directly. However, as reusable straws are made of stainless steel or glass, there might be safety concerns while carrying or using them, and they need to be cleaned properly to ensure good hygiene. Additionally, in special situations where drinking from a cup is not ideal, such as driving, exercising, or in hospitals, the use of compostable straws can ensure safety and convenience.