New Bioplastic Straw Degrades Faster Than Paper

Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) research scientists, in partnership with bioplastic manufacturing company Eastman, have reported developing a new a prototype bioplastic straw that degrades even faster than paper.  

The Problem With Drinking Straws 

The problem with plastic drinking straws is that they are now one of the most commonly found sources of marine litter. Their single-use nature contributes to global plastic pollution. These straws are not biodegradable, perhaps taking hundreds of years to break down. In oceans, for example, they can harm marine life both physically and through ingestion.