In order to eliminate the environmental burden caused by various disposable products, more and more "eco-friendly straws" are appearing on the market. But can new manufacturing really solve the problem? Benchmarks for comparison vary, and it is still difficult to draw a conclusion.
This time we let the data speak for itself, comparing the environmental impact of disposable and reusable straws from the manufacturing process to disposal. Are they more environmentally friendly?
Which environmentally friendly straw is more durable? Comparison of common environmentally friendly straw materials
First, we compare the number of times different environmentally friendly straws and disposable straws can be used under normal usage habits. Because the material is strong, steel straws can be used up to 500 times; glass straws, although they are made of hard material but are prone to breakage, can be used 100 times; the rest are bamboo straws that are made of natural materials because they are more susceptible to moisture damage. 50 calculations.
Glass and bamboo straws have the highest carbon footprint! The carbon emissions of environmentally friendly straws are actually higher than disposable straws!
Whether you are buying an environmentally friendly straw or a disposable straw, not only the straw itself, but also its packaging and peripheral accessories need to be included. Because we calculate the environmental impact of various environmentally friendly straws and disposable straws and the packaging accessories that come with them from manufacturing to disposal.
It’s also worth mentioning that glass straws and bamboo straws, known as “environmentally friendly straws”, are actually the two types with the highest carbon emissions! Because each cleaning will result in the carbon emissions of the steel straw 63%, and the carbon emissions of the glass straw and bamboo straw 41%. And the nylon cleaning brush head that comes with the straw, because of the electricity and diesel consumed by the upstream production chain, as well as the high electricity required for the production of storage bags, the accessories account for the carbon emissions of the straw set, respectively, bamboo straw 45%, glass straw 38% , steel straw 16%.
Are paper straws really more environmentally friendly than plastic straws? ?
Back to the earliest alternative to plastic straws-paper straws. I believe many of you have found that the paper straws rotted due to soaking in water halfway through use, so you need to gain new experience. When we make paper straws because we hate plastic straws, we ignore the fact that paper easily softens and deforms when exposed to water and cannot be reused. We also forget the cost of producing paper. The manufacturing process of paper straws requires cutting down trees and making paper, including bleaching and shaping. The material used to roll paper straws is actually 4 times more than plastic straws!
Environmentally friendly straws must be reused more than 1,000 times before the carbon emissions will be less than paper straws
Due to the extremely thin and light nature of plastic straws, compared to other environmentally friendly straws, each cleaning time will exceed the cost of manufacturing a plastic straw. And when we adjust the reuse times of environmentally friendly straws to 50, 100, and 1,000 times, the more times they are used, the more environmental impact can be reduced by a single use. But even so, if these environmentally friendly straws are used more than a thousand times, they can still only Beats paper straws.
The only way to further reduce environmental impact is to use "water-saving quick wash" or "reduce the purchase of environmentally friendly straw accessories". However, the reality is that almost no environmentally friendly straws can be reused 1,000 times, because during use, they often experience personal use conditions such as being lost, damaged, or too dirty, making the environmentally friendly straws leave you.
Could plastic straws with the lowest carbon emissions be our best choice?
After reading this, will plastic straws be the final savior? Not really. Plastic straws are small in size, and recyclers need to spend extra manpower to select and package them. This is incomparable with the final profit. As a result, there are very few manufacturers willing to recycle them. Only 6 counties and cities in Taiwan have listed plastic straws as recyclable items.
Although plastic straws have the smallest impact on the environment during the manufacturing process, they will still have an impact on the environment when they are difficult to recycle and cannot be reused. Those plastic straws that are not perfectly thrown into the trash can or properly discarded will flow into the environment again and again. It is an indisputable fact in rivers, seas or in the nostrils of sea turtles.
Conclusion: There is no such thing as a truly eco-friendly straw!
To evaluate whether an item is environmentally friendly, you must look at its impact on the environment from the life cycle of manufacturing, use, and disposal.
Take environmentally friendly straws and disposable straws as an example. Alternative materials may be more environmentally friendly in terms of recycling, but they will cause greater environmental impact in other aspects. For example, glass straws are easy to break and bamboo straws are easy to mold, making them unable to be used continuously. They must Buy new ones; although paper straws are biodegradable, they need to be replaced more frequently during use, increasing waste generation.
Therefore, when choosing environmentally friendly products, you need to consider various factors to ensure that items have the longest service life and are truly sustainable. No matter which straw you buy, choose the one with the fewest accessories and use as little detergent and water as possible when cleaning. The simplest and most environmentally friendly way is to drink it without a straw!
※This article was co-written with Professor Lin Xintian from Chengdu University of Environmental Engineering.
※This article is reproduced from RE-THINK〈Are environmentally friendly straws really environmentally friendly? A complete analysis of straw material manufacturing to disposal》, originally published on November 29, 2023.
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Source: Environmental Information Center