The Facts About PLA Straws
PLA straws are single-use, plastic-free straws that mimic traditionally used plastic straws in both appearance, texture, and use. These straws have been marketed heavily recently for being a solution to plastic straw pollution. But are they actually better for the environment, and are the claims about being biodegradable true?
They are composed of plant-based materials, require 68% fewer fossil fuel resources to produce than traditional plastic, and are said to be commercially compostable. However, many have posed questions and concerns about their effectiveness and true environmental impacts.
In terms of environmental psychology, some experts have claimed that customers without knowledge of these straws will fail to see the difference between these straws and plastic straws. This takes away from the purpose of educating the public on the larger environmental issues at hand. Also, while PLA straws are compostable, they actually need very specific conditions in order to fully break down as intended. This is not as desirable as reusable options, because if they end up in landfills or in our oceans, there is no way to ensure their proper breakdown. Thus, they may end up being just as destructive as plastic straws.
While there are specific ways and facilities to compost these products, this is not always feasible for smaller municipalities with limited waste processing programs. How would recycling companies be able to tell the difference between PLA straws and other plastic straws? They wouldn’t.
Thus, PLA straws seem to offer a sustainable solution, but they create considerable waste as they are still single-use, and their lasting effects are unknown and likely to be nearly as damaging as plastic straws. In addition, they bring much needed attention away from the larger issues, including an overwhelming amount of plastic pollution, and are a good example of a greenwashing technique. The best way to avoid this is to stick to reusable methods or simply skip a straw altogether.
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