Why replacing plastic with paper does not solve the waste problem.
In South Korea, at the invitation of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, they learned how replacing plastic with paper in the production of disposable straws reduces the environmental footprint.
The researchers compared four types of disposable straws - regular plastic, paper, biodegradable plastic and bio-based polyethylene. They evaluated not only the garbage that remains after the drink, but also the entire path of the product - from obtaining raw materials and production to disposal. In this comparison, regular plastic straws had a lower impact on 10 of 16 environmental metrics.
Why weren't paper straws such an easy solution?
Their production also affects the environment. Paper does not become environmentally friendly just because it replaces plastic. It is important to take into account how raw materials are obtained, the product is manufactured and what happens to it after use. This is exactly the approach taken by the authors of the study.
A paper straw will not necessarily be recycled. In the sorting plants surveyed, the straws were not collected from waste because they were too small. Coatings and adhesives can make it difficult to recycle paper products.
Changing the material does not eliminate the disposable. After one drink, the straw still becomes waste. Therefore, the authors suggest reducing the use of all single-use straws, instead of simply replacing plastic with paper.
In addition, in one measure related to potential health risks from contamination, paper straws were rated 6.3 times lower than those of regular plastic. However, we are not talking about the fact that drinking through a paper straw is many times more dangerous or that it directly increases the risk of cancer. The study estimated the total damage from pollution resulting from production and disposal.