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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Bio-based alternatives to plastic drinking straws: are they more environmentally benign and consumer preferred?
ClearEvaluation 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.
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.
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.
An Environmental and Cost Comparison Between Polypropylene Plastic Drinking Straws and a "Greener" Alternative: An Oberlin Case Study
This paper compares the environmental impact and cost of plastic versus paper drinking straws, finding that plastic straws are one of the most commonly littered items that harm marine ecosystems. The analysis supports policy arguments for reducing single-use plastic straw consumption.
Plasticless: a Comparative Life-cycle, Socio-economic, and Policy Analysis of Alternatives to Plastic Straws
A life-cycle analysis compared ten types of drinking straws, finding that while plastic straws have the highest environmental impact, some alternatives like glass and metal require significant energy to produce and clean. This analysis illustrates that no single-use plastic alternative is without environmental trade-offs.
Sustainable management of drinking plastic straws is required to reduce plastic pollution: Are we using them more during COVID-19?
Researchers examined sustainable management approaches for single-use plastic drinking straws, finding that COVID-19 pandemic conditions increased plastic straw consumption alongside other pandemic-related plastic waste, underscoring the need for improved waste management policies.
Attributional and consequential life cycle perspectives of second-generation polylactic acid: The benefits of integrating a recycling strategy
Researchers used life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental feasibility of second-generation polylactic acid (PLA) production from wheat straw, comparing attributional and consequential perspectives and assessing the role of chemical recycling on environmental performance. The study found that integrating a recycling strategy improved the environmental profile of the bio-based bioplastic.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bioplastics as Better Alternative to Petroplastics and Their Role in National Sustainability: A Review
This review examines bioplastics as a more environmentally sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, discussing their advantages including lower carbon footprint and biodegradability, while noting that higher production costs currently limit their ability to compete with conventional plastics.
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.
Un/Making the Plastic Straw: Designerly Inquiries into Disposability
This study uses design research methods to investigate the cultural and material life of plastic straws, examining how disposability is engineered and normalized in consumer products. The authors explore how design practices contribute to single-use plastic culture and how they might be reimagined to reduce waste.
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.
Ocena przydatności słomy z wybranych gatunków i odmian zbóż i traw do produkcji słomek do napojów
This Polish study evaluated the suitability of straw from various cereal and grass species for producing drinking straws as an alternative to plastic straws, which are a source of microplastic pollution. The research found several species with suitable stem dimensions, offering a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic.
Evaluating the Environmental and Health Impacts of Disposable Plastics: Toward Sustainable Material Alternatives
This review examined the environmental and health impacts of disposable plastics and explored sustainable alternatives, drawing on secondary literature across environmental science and health disciplines. The paper assessed plastic waste contributions to ocean pollution and proposed strategies to mitigate these challenges.
Life Cycle Assessment of Selected Single-Use Plastic Products towards Evidence-Based Policy Recommendations in Sri Lanka
Researchers applied life cycle assessment to common single-use plastic products in Sri Lanka, quantifying their environmental impacts across production to disposal and providing evidence-based recommendations to guide national plastic pollution policy.
Analysing Influence of Product Attributes And Customer Characteristics Towards Customer’s Purchase Intention on Edible Cutlery
Researchers analysed how product attributes and customer characteristics influence purchase intention for edible cutlery in Indonesia, framing the study against the country's ranking as the world's fourth largest plastic straw-consuming nation. The study evaluated consumer acceptance of edible straws as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic cutlery, identifying key drivers and barriers to adoption.
Comparative Analysis of Bio-Based and Traditional Plastics: Life Cycle Assessment, Cost-Benefit Analysis, and Health Impact Evaluation
This systematic review compares bio-based plastics with traditional petroleum-based plastics across environmental impact, cost, and health effects. The findings suggest that while bio-based alternatives may reduce some environmental harms, they are not without trade-offs, and understanding these differences is important for making healthier choices about the products we use.