Papers

61,005 results
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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
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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

2024 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2 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

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

Large-scale fabrication of structurally coloured cellulose nanocrystal films and effect pigments

Researchers used roll-to-roll deposition to produce large-area photonic films from cellulose nanocrystals — renewable, plant-based particles that self-assemble into structurally colored materials — demonstrating that the resulting effect pigments and glitters offer a biodegradable, non-toxic alternative to conventional microplastic-based glitters.

2021 Nature Materials 281 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

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

High Barrier Sustainable Paper Coating Based on Engineered Polysaccharides and Natural Rubber

Researchers developed a paper-based food packaging coating using engineered polysaccharides and natural rubber that provides barrier performance approaching that of plastic films while being biodegradable and avoiding microplastic formation. The coating maintained oxygen and moisture barrier properties under stress conditions relevant to food shelf life.

2022 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Controlled surface acetylation of cellulosics to tune biodegradability while expanding their use towards common petrochemical-based plastics

Not relevant to microplastics — this study demonstrates surface acetylation of cellulose paper fibers to improve wet strength and moisture resistance while maintaining biodegradability, positioned as an alternative to petrochemical plastics.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Dynamic Structural Colors in Cholesteric Cellulose Composites: Achieving Spatial and Temporal Control

Researchers used ethyl cellulose-poly(acrylic acid) composite films as a model system to study how the balance between polymer chain mobility and photopolymerisation kinetics affects the preservation of cholesteric texture and optical colour properties in structurally coloured cellulose composites. Findings established design rules predicting the blue-shift in reflected colour during polymerisation, advancing rational design of sustainable cellulosic alternatives to conventionally dyed plastics.

2025 Advanced Optical Materials
Article Tier 2

A Study on Microplastic Emission from Disposable Straws and Its Dietary Relevance

Researchers systematically quantified microplastic release from polypropylene and polylactic acid straws across three beverage matrices (deionized water, cola, and skim milk) at temperatures from 25°C to 65°C, using FTIR, micro-FTIR, SEM, and optical microscopy to characterize MP size reduction and dietary exposure implications.

2025 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Cellulose nanofibers/polyvinyl alcohol blends as an efficient coating to improve the hydrophobic and oleophobic properties of paper

Researchers developed a paper coating made from cellulose nanofibers and polyvinyl alcohol and found it significantly improved paper's resistance to both water and grease while also increasing tensile strength, offering a potentially more sustainable alternative to the plastic-based coatings currently used in food packaging.

2022 Scientific Reports 34 citations
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

Aqueous Dispersions from Wood-Derived Biopolymers for Barrier and Packaging Applications

This thesis explored wood-derived biopolymers as sustainable alternatives to synthetic packaging polymers, examining their structural and barrier properties and their potential to replace polyethylene, PVC, and polystyrene in packaging applications while avoiding microplastic pollution.

2025 Åbo Akademi University Research Portal
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

New alternatives to single‐use plastics: Starch and chitosan‐graft‐polydimethylsiloxane‐coated paper for water‐ and oil‐resistant applications

Researchers developed a fluorine-free, bio-based paper coating using starch and chitosan grafted with polydimethylsiloxane, achieving water- and oil-resistance comparable to conventional fluorochemical coatings while remaining biodegradable and compostable.

2021 Nano Select 38 citations