Recent research from South Korea questions the environmental advantages of paper straws over plastic ones. The study, commissioned by South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and conducted by the Korean Society for Life Cycle Assessment, indicates potential health risks related to pollution from paper straws.
The assessment examined the environmental and health implications of different straw materials. Specifically, it compared paper, plastic, biodegradable plastic, and bio-based polyethylene (bio-PE) straws. The analysis covered the entire lifecycle from production to disposal.
The study revealed that paper straws score 6.33 times higher in cancer-related pollution impacts than conventional plastic straws. This scoring reflects potential pollution harm, not direct cancer risk from using paper straws.
The research assessed sixteen environmental impacts, assuming that about 74% of straws are incinerated and 26% are sent to landfills according to South Korean waste management data. While conventional plastic straws performed best in ten environmental categories, no single straw type excelled in all areas.
The findings do not indicate any chemical leaching from straws into beverages. Therefore, the study does not assess the direct health effects on individuals using these straws.
Recommendations following the assessment include offering disposable straws only upon request. Lawmaker Kim Wi-sang criticized restrictions on plastic straws, highlighting the unfulfilled environmental benefits of their alternatives.
President Donald Trump echoed these concerns by signing an executive order in February 2025. This order instructed federal agencies to cease purchasing and using paper straws, emphasizing their ineffectiveness and potential health risks. He expressed dissatisfaction with the practical use of paper straws, which can disintegrate in beverages.
Previous studies have also raised concerns about paper straws. A 2023 study by the University of Antwerp discovered PFAS, known as ‘forever chemicals’, in 27 out of 39 tested straw brands, most commonly in paper straws.
Organizations like 360° Foodservice assure that their members adhere to no-PFAS policies, emphasizing food-contact safety. Fox News Digital sought comments from the Foodservice Packaging Institute and 360° Foodservice regarding these findings.
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