As we become more environmentally aware, people are looking for sustainable replacements for traditional plastics. One of the most common disposable products under fire is the straw. This has led to the introduction of PLA straws as a green alternative. However, are PLA straws better than plastic straws? This detailed comparison of plastic straws vs. PLA straws will help you understand the differences, pros and cons of each so you can make an informed decision.
- What Are Plastic Straws?
- What Are PLA Straws?
- Environmental Impact: Plastic Straws vs. PLA Straws
- Durability and Functionality: Plastic Straws vs. PLA Straws
- Manufacturing: Plastic Straws vs. PLA Straws
- Need a straw production solution?
- Cost Comparison Between Plastic Straws and PLA Straws
- Disposal and Recycling Options
- Health and Safety Concerns
- Availability and Usage in the Market
- The Future of Straws: Plastic vs. PLA
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Composition and Manufacturing
Plastic straws are made of polypropylene or polyethylene, which are types of petroleum-based plastics. These materials are inexpensive, durable, and flexible, making plastic straws the go-to for foodservice industries around the world. To manufacture them, the plastic is heated until it melts, then formed into thin tubes and cut to length.
Common Uses of Plastic Straws
Plastic straws have been used in the food and beverage industry for decades. Whether you’re drinking a cold soda at a fast food restaurant or downing a smoothie, plastic straws are everywhere because they’re cheap and convenient.
Environmental Impact of Plastic Straws
Plastic straws have a horrible environmental reputation. They are not biodegradable and can take up to 200 years to break down. Most plastic straws are not recyclable due to their small size, so they produce a massive amount of waste. Additionally, they often end up in the ocean and kill marine life. Straws have become symbolic of the larger plastic pollution problem, resulting in bans or restrictions in many places around the world.
Composition and Manufacturing Process
PLA (polylactic acid) straws are made from renewable plant-based resources, such as corn starch, sugarcane, or cassava. The process involves fermenting sugars from these plants to yield lactic acid, which is then polymerized into PLA plastic. Unlike traditional plastic, PLA is considered bio-based because it comes from natural, renewable resources.
Biodegradability of PLA Straws
One of the biggest selling points for PLA straws is that they are compostable, meaning they will break down into natural elements (in theory). However, PLA straws usually need to be taken to an industrial composting facility with high temperatures and controlled conditions to break down. In a regular landfill or the ocean, they may not break down as fast as you think, which is a common misconception people have.
Popularity of PLA Straws in Environmentally-Friendly Circles
Finally, as sustainability has become trendy, PLA straws have gained popularity in environmentally-minded businesses and areas looking to decrease their plastic footprint. Again, the fact they can compost and potential confusion about their environmental impact makes them a more nuanced type of alternative.
Plastic Straws and Pollution
Plastic straws are one of the most common forms of pollution. Because they are small and lightweight, they often evade waste management systems and end up in the ocean where they harm animals. Turtles, seabirds, and fish commonly ingest plastic straws that they mistake for food and suffer internal injuries or die as a result.
PLA Straws and Composting Problems
Although PLA straws are marketed as biodegradable, as mentioned earlier, they require specific settings to break down—in an industrial composting facility. In natural environments, they behave like traditional plastics and don’t break down quickly. Also, most municipalities don’t have the ability to process PLA straws, so again, many end up in landfills.
Strength and Performance with Drinks
Plastic straws are flexible and durable with both cold and hot drinks. They can be used with thick drinks like smoothies or milkshakes without losing their shape. While PLA straws are more environmentally friendly, they tend to be a little more brittle. In very hot drinks, they can soften or warp, which can make them less functional in some cases.
How Long They Last While Being Used
Plastic straws keep their shape while being used, even if left in a drink for hours. PLA straws lose shape more quickly when used in liquids for an extended time, especially hot ones, making them less practical in some situations.
User Experience
In general, plastic straws tend to be smoother and more flexible than PLA straws. PLA straws are more rigid and can feel a little stiffer, which some users may find unpleasant. Many people, however, don’t notice much difference in day-to-day usage.
The manufacturing process of plastic straws and PLA straws is very different because of the unique characteristics of the materials. They both use specialized machines, but with PLA, you have to be much more careful with temperature because it is very sensitive.
Plastic Straw Manufacturing
Plastic straws are typically made from polypropylene (PP), which is a petroleum-based plastic. PP is relatively easy to work with because it’s not very sensitive to temperature changes during the production process. This means the manufacturing equipment used to make plastic straws (a.k.a. PP straw-making machines) can work with a wider range of temperatures. The PP material is melted and extruded into long tubes, which are cut to straw length and packaged for distribution. Because the process is efficient and fast, it’s easy to scale up production of plastic straws at a low cost.
PLA Straw Manufacturing
On the other hand, PLA (polylactic acid) is a bioplastic made from renewable resources (corn starch, sugarcane, etc.). One of the key challenges in making PLA straws is that PLA is much more sensitive to temperature than polypropylene. Because of this, the production process requires tighter temperature control to ensure the material doesn’t degrade or lose its structural integrity.
To meet those needs, PLA straw-making machines are specially adapted with temperature regulation systems. They control the heating and cooling stages to ensure the PLA extrudes properly into straws without damaging its biodegradable properties. Because more precision is needed to make straws from PLA, it’s generally a more complicated and expensive process than producing plastic straws. Also, if temperature isn’t controlled properly during the production of PLA, you may end up with straws that are brittle or that warp.
Manufacturing Costs
Plastic straws are incredibly cheap to make because petroleum-based plastics are inexpensive, and the process is highly scalable. The process of making PLA straws from plant-based materials is more expensive. Technology is still evolving, and economies of scale haven’t reduced costs as much as they have for plastic straws.
Pricing for Businesses
Plastic straws are still less expensive for businesses to buy, especially in bulk. The cost of PLA straws is usually more expensive, which can be a consideration for high-volume food and beverage businesses such as fast food restaurants and coffee shops.
Consumer Costs
Consumers will see that businesses using PLA straws will charge more for products. Some eco-conscious consumers will pay the extra money, but for others, especially in fast food places, it can be a tough sell.
Plastic Straws Disposal
Plastic straws can’t be recycled because of their size and shape, which makes them hard to sort in recycling facilities. Because of this, they usually end up in landfills or as litter. Their long decomposition time means they are a long-term environmental challenge.
PLA Straws Disposal
PLA straws can be composted; however, they have to go to an industrial facility that can meet specific conditions for that to happen. Home composting won’t break them down properly, and in many cases, they end up in regular waste streams. Because most municipal composting facilities can’t handle PLA, many PLA straws end up in the same place plastic ones do.
Which Is Easier to Dispose Of?
Neither plastic nor PLA straws are particularly easy to dispose of properly. While PLA straws can be composted, the lack of infrastructure means you can’t take advantage of that potential benefit. Ultimately, the disposal process is difficult for both types of straws.
Plastic Straws and Potential Health Concerns
Some people are concerned about plastic straws leaching chemicals, such as BPA, when heated. Most plastic straws made today are BPA-free, but they can still be of health concern as they break down.
PLA Straws and Food Safety
PLA straws are generally considered safe for food use because they’re made from plant-based materials. However, they can soften in hot foods, which can lead to potential contamination when the straw deforms.
Where Are Plastic Straws Still Used?
Plastic straws are still widely used in many parts of the world, particularly fast-food restaurants and take-out places, despite increasing numbers of bans and regulations. However, many countries and regions are trying to get rid of them completely.
Where Are PLA Straws Being Used?
PLA straws are becoming more popular in environmentally-friendly places. They can commonly be found in cafes, restaurants, and places that focus on sustainability. More businesses are starting to use them, but they’re still not as common as plastic straws.
Supply Chain Issues for Both
Plastic straws are easy to manufacture and distribute because the supply chain is well-established. PLA straws can have more issues with the supply chain because they’re newer to the market and demand is rising for environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Long-Term Environmental Impact
Over the next decade, there will be greater pressure to reduce plastic waste. While PLA straws are not a perfect solution, they are a step in the right direction toward more sustainable practices. It’s possible that innovations in biodegradable materials will improve the environmental impact of straw use, but larger systemic changes in waste management and consumption habits will still be needed.
Which Straw Is Better for a Sustainable Future?
When comparing plastic straws to PLA straws, PLA straws are undoubtedly the more environmentally-friendly option in a perfect world. However, due to the challenges of composting and disposal, neither option is without its difficulties. Ultimately, moving toward reusable options or improved composting infrastructure is the best way to reduce straw-related waste in the future.
Both plastic straws and PLA straws have their pros and cons. Plastic straws are more durable, less expensive, and more readily available than PLA straws, but their environmental impact is catastrophic. PLA straws, although better for the planet under the right circumstances, still have issues with biodegradability and cost. The best answer for businesses and consumers might depend on the individual use case, but looking towards reusable straws and encouraging a decrease in the use of straws may ultimately be the most sustainable path forward.
FAQs
Are PLA straws biodegradable?
PLA straws are biodegradable, but only in industrial composting facilities, which are not widely available in most places.
Why are plastic straws bad for the environment?
Plastic straws don’t decompose for hundreds of years and contribute significantly to pollution in the ocean, which kills wildlife and damages ecosystems.
Can I compost PLA straws at home?
No, you cannot compost PLA straws at home; they require industrial composting facilities with high temperatures to break down properly.
How long does it take for plastic straws to decompose?
Plastic straws can take up to 200 years or more to fully decompose. During this time, they break down into smaller microplastics, which persist in the environment and pose significant threats to wildlife and ecosystems.
Are PLA straws better for the environment than plastic straws?
Yes, PLA straws are better for the environment in theory because they are made from renewable resources and can be composted. However, they require industrial composting facilities to break down properly, and in natural environments like landfills or oceans, they may not degrade much faster than plastic straws.
Can PLA straws be recycled?
PLA straws are not recyclable in traditional plastic recycling systems. They are compostable in industrial composting facilities, but they cannot be processed through conventional recycling programs because they require different handling than petroleum-based plastics.
What happens if PLA straws end up in the ocean?
If PLA straws end up in the ocean, they do not break down as quickly as they would in an industrial composting facility. Similar to plastic, they can persist for a long time in marine environments, and their impact on marine life is still under study.
Why are plastic straws still widely used if they are so harmful to the environment?
Plastic straws are still widely used because they are cheap, easy to manufacture, and offer consistent durability in both hot and cold drinks. Despite their environmental impact, the convenience and cost-effectiveness of plastic straws have made them difficult to phase out in many industries, though bans and restrictions are becoming more common.
