South Korean Study Finds Paper Straws May Harm Environment More Than Plastic
A South Korean government study shows paper straws can emit six times more carcinogens and double the acidification impact of plastic, prompting a call to st...
POLICY WIRE — Seoul, South Korea — A government‑commissioned life‑cycle analysis has concluded that paper drinking straws generate a far larger environmental burden than their plastic counterparts.
The assessment revealed that paper straws score more than six times higher than plastic on a metric that estimates cancer‑related environmental impact, and they double the effect on ecosystem acidification.
Researchers evaluated four straw types—conventional plastic, paper, biodegradable plastic and bio‑based polyethylene—across 16 impact categories covering raw‑material extraction, manufacturing, use and disposal.
In a parallel survey of 1,001 adults, 87.5% expressed a preference for plastic straws, while over half indicated they would only want a straw when they specifically asked for one.
Based on these findings, the study’s authors advise retailers and venues to cease the automatic provision of disposable straws, regardless of material, and to offer them only on request.
The results challenge the common assumption that switching to alternative materials automatically improves sustainability, suggesting that paper alternatives may, in some respects, be more damaging than the plastic they aim to replace.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
