Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

All-natural, hydrophobic, strong paper straws based on biodegradable composite coatings

Researchers developed an all-natural paper straw coated with a biodegradable mixture of sodium alginate, cellulose nanofibers, and stearic acid that avoids the microplastic problem of traditional plastic-coated straws. The coating made the straws water-resistant for over three hours while maintaining good strength, and the straws fully biodegraded in soil within about 45 days. The study offers a practical alternative to plastic straws that does not contribute to microplastic pollution during breakdown.

2024 Journal of Cleaner Production 20 citations
Article Tier 2

A hydrophobic and degradable straw based on the ethyl cellulose-coated bacterial cellulose

Researchers developed a hydrophobic and biodegradable straw made from ethyl cellulose-coated bacterial cellulose as a microplastic-free alternative to conventional disposable plastic straws. The cellulose-based straw achieved the hydrophobicity needed for beverage use while remaining biodegradable, offering a sustainable substitute that avoids microplastic shedding during use and disposal.

2024
Article Tier 2

Production of Cost-Effective Biodegradable Straw

Researchers developed a biodegradable drinking straw made from natural, chemical-free materials as an alternative to plastic straws. Plastic straws are a common source of single-use plastic pollution and potential microplastic generation in marine environments.

2021 International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

An ethyl cellulose-coated bacterial cellulose based hydrophobic and degradable straw-like materials towards drinking straws

Researchers developed a microplastic-free drinking straw by coating bacterial cellulose with ethyl cellulose, achieving strong mechanical performance (66.82 MPa bending strength), water-repellent surfaces, and complete soil biodegradation within 20 days — outperforming conventional polylactic acid straws on both durability and environmental decomposition.

2025 Carbohydrate Polymers 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating interface adhesion of PLA-coated cellulose paper straws: Degradation, plant growth effects, and life cycle assessment

Researchers developed polylactic acid-coated cellulose paper straws as an alternative to single-use plastic straws and evaluated their environmental impact. The straws decomposed 35-40% within 4 months in soil and compost, though microplastics were detected in surrounding soil and plant tissues. Life cycle assessment showed that the manufacturing improvements reduced the ecological footprint compared to conventional plastic straws, though the release of microplastics during degradation warrants further study.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Ultrastrong, Hydrostable, and Degradable Straws Derived from Microplastic-Free Thermoset Films for Sustainable Development

Researchers developed strong, moisture-stable drinking straws from all-natural thermoset materials derived from plant-based resins, demonstrating that the resulting straws are microplastic-free, fully biodegradable, and mechanically superior to paper straws which collapse in beverages.

2023 ACS Omega 19 citations
Article Tier 2

An Innovative Alternative to Plastic Straws with Bacterial Cellulose

This study developed biodegradable bacterial cellulose as an alternative material for drinking straws, replacing conventional plastic. Bacterial cellulose straws are fully biodegradable, offering a practical solution to reduce the single-use plastic that fragments into microplastics in the environment.

2023 Journal of Student Research
Article Tier 2

Edible Straws as Promising Biodegradable Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics: A Comprehensive Review

Single-use plastic straws are a small but symbolic part of the microplastics problem, and this review surveys research into edible straws as a biodegradable alternative, covering materials ranging from cassava starch and seaweed to cellulose and proteins. Lab results are promising — cellulose-based versions show good strength, seaweed-based ones biodegrade quickly, and life cycle analyses confirm ecological advantages over plastic — but challenges including high production costs, short shelf life, and lack of regulatory standards are holding back commercial adoption. The review concludes that realizing the potential of edible straws will require coordination across material science, food engineering, and policy.

2026
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and adhesive free, multifunctional, circular economy approach-based biomass-derived drinking straws

Researchers developed drinking straws made from rice straw waste that are free of microplastics and adhesives. The study suggests these bio-based straws are water-stable, heat-resistant, antibacterial, and biodegradable, with a dramatically lower carbon footprint than metal or polylactic acid alternatives, turning agricultural waste into a useful consumer product.

2024 iScience 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Growing Strong Polysaccharide-Derived Edible Straws with an Inherent Structural Binder via Biomanufacturing

Researchers developed edible straws made from bacterial cellulose and starch using a biomanufacturing approach, as an alternative to plastic straws that contribute to microplastic pollution. The straws demonstrated strong mechanical performance, maintaining their structure in both hot and cold beverages for extended periods. The study suggests that bio-manufactured food-contact materials could help reduce reliance on conventional plastics and the associated microplastic risks.

2025 Nano Letters 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable, Water‐Resistant, Anti‐Fizzing, Polyester Nanocellulose Composite Paper Straws

Researchers developed a biodegradable paper straw coated with poly(butylene succinate) and cellulose nanocrystals that resists water absorption and prevents the fizzing typical of conventional paper straws in carbonated drinks. Unlike PLA-coated alternatives, the coating is fully ocean-degradable and the nanocrystals improved coating adhesion.

2022 Advanced Science 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-based alternatives to plastic drinking straws: are they more environmentally benign and consumer preferred?

This study evaluated bio-based alternatives to conventional plastic drinking straws, assessing the environmental footprint of paper and polylactic acid straws versus plastic and comparing their functional properties including user experience.

2023 Carbon Research 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Drinking Straw from Coconut Leaf: A Study of its Epicuticular Wax Content and Phenol Extrusion Properties

Drinking straws made from coconut leaves were studied as a plastic-free alternative, with testing showing they have natural wax coatings and structural properties suitable for use. The development of sustainable, biodegradable alternatives to plastic straws could help reduce single-use plastic waste.

2019 Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 11 citations
Article Tier 2

A Preliminary Evaluation on the Development of Edible Drinking Straw from Guso (Eucheuma cottonii) Seaweeds

Researchers developed edible drinking straws from Guso seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) with different plasticizer concentrations and evaluated their biodegradability, strength, and water resistance. Replacing single-use plastic straws with edible, biodegradable alternatives reduces the plastic waste that enters aquatic environments and eventually fragments into microplastics.

2023 Proceedings of International Exchange and Innovation Conference on Engineering & Sciences (IEICES) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano/Micro Hybrid Bamboo Fibrous Preforms for Robust Biodegradable Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Researchers created strong, eco-friendly composite materials by combining nano- and micro-scale fibers from bamboo, producing a biodegradable plastic alternative with improved mechanical properties. This work contributes to developing sustainable materials that could replace conventional petroleum-based plastics and reduce microplastic generation.

2021 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Cutlery Alternative: Case Study with Biodegradable Spoons

Researchers produced biodegradable spoons from natural materials as an alternative to plastic cutlery, evaluating their texture, antioxidant activity, and polyphenol content to assess feasibility as an environmentally friendly disposable option.

2021 Foods 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Paper drinking straws coated with cellulose acetate and polyhydroxyalkanoates via an entropy-driven approach and natural colorants as alternatives for plastic drinking straws

Researchers developed biodegradable paper drinking straws coated with cellulose acetate and polyhydroxyalkanoates using an entropy-driven approach, proposing these as alternatives to polypropylene plastic straws to reduce microplastic pollution, and explored cellulose nematic liquid crystal photonic pigments as non-toxic natural colorants.

2024 BioResources
Article Tier 2

Edible, Ultrastrong, and Microplastic‐Free Bacterial Cellulose‐Based Straws by Biosynthesis

Researchers developed a new type of drinking straw made from bacterial cellulose that is edible, free of microplastics, and mechanically stronger than paper straws. The straw uses an alginate coating instead of adhesives and has a three-dimensional nanofiber structure that outperforms commercially available alternatives. This biosynthesized straw offers a healthier and more environmentally friendly replacement for disposable plastic straws.

2021 Advanced Functional Materials 112 citations
Article Tier 2

Strong, anti-swelling, and biodegradable seaweed-based straws with surface mineralized CaCO3 armor

Drawing on the structural design of bones and sea urchins, researchers developed seaweed-based drinking straws coated with calcium carbonate that showed strong water resistance and mechanical performance as a plastic-free alternative.

2024 Carbohydrate Polymers 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimizing multilevel interactions of paper straws using modified cellulose nanocrystal-based coatings to enhance PLA crystallization and microplastic capture efficiency

Researchers developed a novel coating for paper straws using modified cellulose nanocrystals combined with PLA to improve durability and water resistance. The coating also demonstrated the ability to capture microplastics from beverages during use. The study offers a dual-benefit approach: creating a more practical paper straw alternative while simultaneously reducing microplastic exposure from drinking.

2025 Carbohydrate Polymers 3 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Steam Transmission of Bioplastic Straw based Carrageenan and Gelatin

This study developed bioplastic straws made from carrageenan (seaweed extract) and gelatin as an alternative to conventional plastic straws. The researchers found an optimal gelatin concentration that gave the best water resistance and shelf life. This matters because regular plastic straws are a major source of microplastic pollution in oceans and waterways, and biodegradable alternatives could help reduce that contamination.

2023 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science
Article Tier 2

Ecological packaging: Creating sustainable solutions with all-natural biodegradable cellulose materials

Researchers developed a pure cellulose food packaging material by combining bacterial cellulose and ethyl cellulose — both natural, biodegradable materials — into a strong, water-resistant film that degrades naturally and avoids the microplastic pollution associated with conventional single-use plastic packaging. The material's mechanical strength, water resistance, and recyclability position it as a practical plastic replacement for food packaging.

2024 Giant 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Recycling of Waste Bamboo Biomass and Papermaking Waste Liquid to Synthesize Sodium Lignosulfonate/Chitosan Glue-Free Biocomposite

Not a microplastics paper — this study creates a biodegradable composite material from papermaking waste liquid (sodium lignosulfonate) and waste bamboo as a glue-free alternative to conventional wood-based building materials.

2023 Molecules 12 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review on Edible Straws

This review examines edible straws as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic straws, synthesizing research on their material compositions, structural performance, sensory properties, and alignment with global sustainability goals to reduce microplastic accumulation from disposable plastic products.

2025 European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety