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Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Investigating interface adhesion of PLA-coated cellulose paper straws: Degradation, plant growth effects, and life cycle assessment
ClearBio-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.
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.
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.
Mixing effect of polylactic acid microplastic and straw residue on soil property and ecological function
A pot experiment examined effects of polylactic acid (biodegradable) microplastics and straw residue on soil microbial communities and carbon/nitrogen dynamics, finding that PLA MPs had minimal effect on bacterial diversity but interacted with carbon availability to alter microbial function. The results suggest biodegradable microplastics are not ecologically neutral in soil ecosystems.
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.
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.
All-natural, hydrophobic, biodegradable cellulose-based straws through simultaneous esterification and filling with stearic acid for cold beverages
Researchers developed a biodegradable, all-natural straw made from bleached bamboo fibers and stearic acid as an alternative to plastic straws that generate microplastics. The straw achieved strong hydrophobicity, worked well in cold beverages including tea, coffee, and milk, and fully degraded in soil within 50 days. The study offers a promising green alternative that avoids both the microplastic pollution from plastic straws and the chemical additives used in conventional paper straws.
Evaluation and future development direction of paper straw and plastic straw
This review evaluates the environmental trade-offs of replacing plastic straws with paper straws, examining lifecycle impacts, material properties, and waste management outcomes. The authors find that while paper straws reduce persistent plastic pollution, their production and disposal also carry environmental costs, and that neither option is entirely without impact.
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.
Evaluation of paper straws versus plastic straws: Development of a methodology for testing and understanding challenges for paper straws
This study developed a methodology for testing the performance of paper straws as alternatives to plastic straws, evaluating their structural integrity, taste neutrality, and environmental impact under realistic use conditions. The work addresses the need for objective evaluation of plastic straw alternatives as regulations drive substitution away from single-use plastics.
Aging of biodegradable plastics alters soil aggregate stability and organic carbon through shifts in microbial community composition
Researchers examined how polylactic acid (PLA) drinking straw fragments at varying concentrations alter soil aggregate stability, organic carbon, and microbial communities, finding that moderate concentrations initially boosted aggregate stability and microbial diversity before higher concentrations caused decline, while PLA degradation enriched potentially pathogenic bacteria.
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.
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.
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.
Impact of moisture on the degradation and priming effects of poly(lactic acid) microplastic
Researchers examined how soil moisture levels affect the degradation of biodegradable poly(lactic acid) microplastics and their influence on soil organic carbon decomposition. The study found that moisture significantly increased PLA degradation in acidic soils, and PLA induced both positive and negative priming effects on native soil carbon depending on moisture levels and soil type.
Effects of biodegradable microplastics and straw addition on soil greenhouse gas emissions
Researchers tested how biodegradable microplastics made from polylactic acid (PLA) affect greenhouse gas emissions from soil, both with and without added crop straw. They found that high concentrations of PLA microplastics significantly increased carbon dioxide emissions while decreasing nitrous oxide emissions, suggesting that even biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastic mulch films can meaningfully alter soil chemistry and gas cycles.
Deterioration of bio-based polylactic acid plastic teabags under environmental conditions and their associated effects on earthworms.
Researchers evaluated how polylactic acid (PLA) teabags break down under natural soil conditions and found that degradation was slower than expected, with released microplastics causing measurable harm to earthworms including reduced growth and altered gut microbiome.
Ecological impacts of polylactic acid and polylactic acid-polyethylene microplastics on freshwater ecosystems: Insights from a water–Vallisneria natans–sediment system
Researchers tested the effects of biodegradable PLA and PLA-polyethylene blend microplastics on a freshwater ecosystem containing aquatic plants and sediment. Both types of microplastics altered water chemistry, reduced plant growth, increased oxidative stress, and shifted the microbial communities in both water and sediment. The study demonstrates that even biodegradable plastic alternatives can disrupt freshwater ecosystems in meaningful ways.
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.
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.