biodegradable drinking straws
233698956
'Biodegradable' drinking straws contain PFAS
235412128
An evaluation of alternative biodegradable and reusable drinking straws as alternatives to single use plastic.
The manufacture of single use plastic items uses fossil fuels, and releases greenhouse gases. Plastic waste is also harmful to humans and wildlife. Recent attention towards the regulation or elimination of plastic straws has led to the development of many alternatives to single use plastic straws, some intended to be disposed of immediately after use, and others to be cleaned and reused. Unfortunately, anecdotes are widespread of inferior sensory experiences from such alternatives, with straws either losing stability when wet, imparting negative flavor properties to a beverage, or feeling unpleasant in the mouth. Despite such reports, little formal research exists categorizing these alternatives. Here, we examine popular choices for straw materials in a focus group (n 9) and in a consumer sensory test (n 102) as well as testing the durability of straws when soaked in water. Cornstarch straws offered the most similar sensory experience to plastic, whereas options such as paper, wheat, pasta, and rice straws all scored low on mouthfeel and flavor liking, with off flavors commonly reported in beverages consumed with these straws. A Kano analysis (n 193) to determine the factors consumers find essential in drinking straws confirmed the most important to be that no flavors were imparted to beverages when used. Finally, a consumer survey (n 579) confirmed that straw consumers primarily use them out of default availability; most use them only if they are given without asking, and most would readily give up plastic straws, but may be unfamiliar with other options. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Plastic straws contribute to waste and result in the release of greenhouse gases in their manufacture. Despite this, they provide a superior sensory experience compared to other options. Here, we review aspects of this experience, along with consumers motivations for using straws.
Journal of food science
Amanda Jonsson Kent Andersson Alina Stelick Robin Dando
233666802
'Biodegradable' straws contain forever chemicals
As consumers turn to alternatives to single use plastic, drinking straws made of plant based materials like paper are coming into wider use, and many are marketed as biodegradable or even compostab.
227086954
Manufacturer Biodegradable Paper Drinking Straw Printed Recycled Straws FANCYCO Wholesale Straw Reusable Factory
Gisele Silva de Moraes Rafael do Amaral Cristovam Ricardo Francalacci Savaris
198445673
Prospeccion de uso del genero Equisetum como producto biodegradable alternativo al uso de tubos plasticos de beber por succion (pitillos)
The vegetation is key for the conservation of biodiversity and the human wellbeing. It generates ecosystem services thanks to their functional traits (Binder, 2013) However, despite the importance of the functional traits of vegetation, many of these traits aren't yet Known. For the case of the plants that give us provisional services and that also are used by artisan producers, there is a lack of information regarding the functions that they provide in the ecosystems, as well of other potential uses that they could eventually have (Garcia, 2007) With base on observations of the author, and reports in the literature about the potential use of the Equisetum genus as a straw (liquid suction tube for drinking) the potential of Equisetum giganteum was evaluated for developing straws in the municipality of Alban (Cundinamarca) The importance and pertinence of this study lies on the increasing environmental problem of plastics and microplastics residues, that pollute all the ecosystems and pose a threat for human health and welfare in a global scale. For these reasons, this problem requires an intense search for new and innovative alternatives that besides of being biodegradable, doesn't have great environmental impacts during its manufacturing and that require low cost in their transformation. Thus, a methodological triangulation was the approach of this exploratory research, in were usability tests were developed, also surveys to the users of the biological straws were conducted, and some laboratories that included the following types of tests were carried out: global migration test, tension test, flexion test, compression test, suction test and biodegradation of plastic straws, paper straws and equisetum stems. These tests put in trial the resistance of the equisetum material to the forces to which they are subjected by the manipulation and suction when used as a straw, as well as its viability as a secure product for entering in contact with food stuffs, through the total quantification of the transferred residues from the equisetum materials to the drinks. In the last phase of the project, a product life cycle analysis was made for the equisetum stems used as straws, as well as with the conventional straws (paper and plastic) focusing on the post consumer phase, for determining if this product could eventually have a minor environmental impact, in comparison with the actual state. Considering the results, it was evidenced that the surveyed users, expressed a high satisfaction when they utilize the biological straws for sucking up juices during the usability tests. Moreover, the global migration test determined that the migrating residues of the biological straw to the simulant of food stuff (ethanol 10% maintains its levels between the accepted parameter of the norm NTC 5022 with a maximum migration of 3.3 mg/dm2. The result of the first physical test measured the variable of resistance to tension in the equisetum stems, which surpass the resistance to tension of the other types of straw evaluated (paper and plastic) Also, both the plastic and equisetum have a similar resistance to the compression (0.35 N/mm for a deformation of 20% and the latter have a resistance to flexion of 0.21 Mpa as well as the paper straws, while the plastic straw could be bent with less effort (0.06 Mpa) As regards to the tests made using drinks of different viscosities for measuring the capacity of suction by the equisetum straws (suctions tests) it was observed that the equisetum has a bigger capacity of transporting liquids than the conventional straws when used on the pineapple juice, because of their particular biological phenotype (vascular system with carinal canals) Finally, when comparing the proportions that resulted from the biodegradation, it is observed that no significant changes, on the loss of mass caused by microorganism, happened on the plastic straws (from 100% 99.62% after the 4 weeks of monitoring. Instead, the proportions of final weight of the paper straw (from 100% to 74.97% and of equisetum stems (from 100% to 54.31% did show big differences. After carrying out the statistical analysis of each set of data and comparing the results obtained from the cited tests in each type of material, it is concluded that a potential of the Equisetum giganteum exist for being used as a drinking straw under the specific conditions of this study. For this reason, it is recommended for future studies, first, carrying out demographic studies about the effects that occur to the Equisetum giganteum plant when it is harvested. This with the purpose of proposing a harvest rate that guaranties the survival of the population of interest, and second, experimenting with diverse organic cultivation methods for the establishment of ex situ populations that could by viable in cost benefit terms.
Valderrama Leon Mario Alejandro
222820015
[A new occupational and environmental hazard nanoplastic]
Problems arising from the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment have become global. Appeals to stop the usage of disposable drinking straws or plastic cutlery did not come out without reason 320 million tons of plastic products are produced annually, of which 40% are disposable items. More and more countries and private enterprises are giving up these types of items in favor of their biodegradable substitutes, e.g. cardboard drinking straws. Plastic waste in the environment is subject to a number of physicochemical interactions and biodegradation in which bacteria are involved. By using synthetic waste, they reduce the size of plastic garbage while increasing its dispersion in the environment. Small plastic particles, invisible to the naked eye, are called nanoplastic. Nanoplastic is not inert to living organisms. Due to its size, it is taken up with food by animals and passed on in the trophic chain. The ability to penetrate the body's barriers through nanoplastic leads to the induction of biological effects with various outcomes. Research studies on the interaction of nanoplastic with living organisms are carried out in many laboratories; however, their number is still a drop in the ocean of the data needed to draw clear cut conclusions about the impact of nanoplastic on living organisms. There is also no data on the direct exposure to nanoplastic contamination at workplaces, schools and public utilities, standards describing the acceptable concentration of nanoplastic in food products and drinking water, and in vitro tests on nanoparticles other than polystyrene nanoparticles. Complementing the existing data will allow assessing the risks arising from the exposure of organisms to nanoplastic. Med Pr. 2020;71(6)
Medycyna pracy
Michal Rakowski Agnieszka Grzelak
237239511
CHARACTERIZING MICROPLASTIC DEGRADATION IN A SIMULATED MARINE ENVIRON MENT
This study establishes and implements characterization methods to investigate the potentially hazardous degradation products of plastics found floating on the ocean surface. Unprocessed plastic pellets (polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene) and consumer drinking straw pieces (non biodegradable straws and compostable straws) were placed in simulated seawater and examined for one year. Analyses were performed to study the effects of ultraviolet light and physical mixing on the degradation including yellowness index (YI) pellet mass loss, SEM, ATR FTIR, and GCMS using an original extraction technique. Changes in YI ranged from 11 3 to 36 9, suggesting photooxidation occurred. SEM images show indentations and surface smoothening of all samples. FTIR results yielded carbonyl indices ranging from 1.81 to 1.93. Degradation products were isolated from the simulated seawater solution using a novel extraction process and identified by GCMS showing aliphatic hydrocarbons for PE and PP, whereas those of PS are cyclic aromatic compounds. CHARACTERIZING MICROPLASTIC DEGRADATION IN A SIMULATED MARINE ENVIRONMENT Xiaoxiao Wang* Rachel Shubella* Evan Ammidown* Heather C. S. Chenette+ Chemical Engineering Department, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN 47803 +Corresponding author: chenette@rose hulman.edu
Rachel L Shubella Evan Ammidown Heather C S Chenette
225153562
Comparative life cycle assessment of drinking straws in Brazil
Abstract There have been numerous discussions about plastic drinking straws and their impacts on the natural environment, reflecting on public policies and companies' operation, while alternatives to substituting plastic based products have been proposed. However, making decisions without measuring trade off conditions between the different scenarios may lead to higher impacts elsewhere on the life cycle or even in other areas of protection. To deepen this discussion, this paper aimed to quantify the potential environmental impacts of different drinking straws as well as find possible break even situations. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to assess six different drinking straws (plastic, stainless steel, glass, paper, bamboo and jute) from cradle to grave. A hybrid life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) method was applied following the characterization models recommended by ILCD. Sensitivity analyses included reuse rate, washing condition, the ancillary kits usage, End of Life (EoL) strategies and the inclusion of an indicator to account for the marine litter impacts from Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Results showed that for baseline scenarios, plastic drinking straws have a better environmental performance if compared to reusable straws and has a favourable performance in 10 of 11 categories if compared to paper drinking straws. Water and detergent consumptions during the use phase and the manufacturing of additional elements (bag, brush) are the main drivers for this potentially higher environmental impact. Sensitivity analyses, however, showed that certain consumption patterns may lead to a break even situation, especially when plastic drinking straws are disposed incorrectly into the natural ecosystem. Accounting for the impacts of marine litter may lead to a change in the decision making depending on the significance (weight) attributed to the marine litter indicator. These outcomes reinforce the importance of understanding trade offs during the entire life cycle of products and demonstrate that policies directed to product substitution should be carefully grounded. Recommendations on reusable straws rely on simplifying their "kits" expanding reuse rates and improving the washing process. For single use straws, waste collection and correct disposal are mandatory. The lack of a LCIA methodology to account for the environmental impact of mismanaged plastic waste on ecosystems, especially in the marine compartment represents an important issue to be further developed, from which, more realistic scenarios could be outlined for any product.
Guilherme Marcelo Zanghelini Edivan Cherubini Ricardo Dias Yuki Hamilton Onda Kabe Jorge Juan Soto Delgado
229394594
Examining a TPB Model towards Intention to Use Biodegradable Drinking Straw Using PLS SEM
Disposable plastic drinking straw is plastic waste type which causes significant environmental pollutions, economic drawbacks and health issues. This paper analyzed the effect of attitude, subjective norm, knowledge and perceived behavioral control towards students' intention to use biodegradable drinking straw and to examine the moderating role of gender towards students' intention to use biodegradable drinking straw. A total of 242 valid questionnaire responses was coded and analyzed using PLS SEM analysis. The results showed that the attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control had a major impact on intention to use biodegradable drinking straw. Keywords: Intention; Biodegradable Straw; Knowledge; Gender eISSN: 2398 4287(c) 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE Bsby e International Publishing House, Ltd. UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC ND license (http:/creativecommons.org/licenses/by nc nd/4.0/ Peer review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment Behaviour Researchers) ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE Bs (Centre for Environment Behaviour Studies) Faculty of Architecture, Planning Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI:
Nadia Nurul Najwa Mohmad Hassan Juliana Mohd Abdul Kadir Noreen Noor Abd Aziz
210183881
Investigating Students' Attitude and Intention to Use Biodegradable Drinking Straw in Emerging Country
Plastic drinking straw is widely used for drinking water and has been very important for society as an effective tool in a restaurant and other service businesses. However, excessive use leads to large amount of plastic waste that would harm the environment. Plastic waste pose serious environmental pollutions, economical disadvantages and health problems in humans and animals. Therefore, the government has taken its first step to ban the usage of plastic straw in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan in 2019. The government has strategies for public outreach to advocate the drawbacks of using plastic straw. The government suggested the public to reduce the usage of plastic straw or to choose biodegradable drinking straw as an alternative in order to save the environment. Efforts to design the best strategy are worth it if environmental awareness and attitude with regards to the plastic consumption among society are high. Therefore, this research is important to examine the students' attitudes, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control towards students' intention. A total of 242 participants aged between 18 to 24 years participated in the survey via systematic random sampling technique. The findings revealed that students attitudes, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control have a significant influence on their favorable intention toward biodegradable drinking straw. The outcome of this research would be in form of a guideline for both scholars and policymakers to plan for further strategies with regards to the usage of biodegradable straw. Furthermore, this study contributes to theory by providing empirical evidence of the relationship between attitudes toward the environment, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls on intentions of young educated consumers in using biodegradable drinking straw.
Juliana Mohd Abdul Kadir Nadia Nurul Najwa Mohmad Hassan Noreen Noor Abd Aziz