Key facts
- Paper straws generate over six times more carcinogens than plastic straws, according to a South Korean study.
- Paper straws have double the impact on environmental acidification compared to plastic straws.
- 87.5% of South Koreans dislike paper straws, a government survey found.
A recent study from South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment suggests that paper straws may have a more significant negative impact on the environment than traditional plastic ones. The research analyzed paper, plastic, biodegradable plastic, and sugarcane-based straws across 16 environmental categories. Traditional plastic straws exhibited the lowest environmental footprint in 10 categories, including human toxicity and climate change impact. Paper straws were found to generate substantially more carcinogens and contribute more to environmental acidification. The study also highlighted that paper straws are rarely recycled due to their size and composition, and their coatings and glues make them difficult to process.