"Biodegradable" Paper Straw, Real Deal or False Advertising?

News about the recent detection of PFAS (poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances) in various paper straws has surprised us and indeed raised concern for us as customers since paper straws have been suggested and campaigned aggressively as more eco-friendly products and safer for use than plastics.

Last week a study published in Food and Contaminants journal reported that PFAS were found in almost all brands of paper and bamboo straws which were selected randomly from Asia and Europe. Also, two years ago, actually, there was a study that was published in Chemosphere Journal that reported the presence of PFAS in various brands of paper straws. These findings are quite shocking since paper straw has been used as a "trademark" for sustainable choice to combat plastic pollution because it is "biodegradable". However, PFAS may take hundreds of years to completely degrade and sooner or later they may migrate into the environment through landfill leachate or the application of compost to the ground, accumulating in the soil, water, and living things (Boisacq et al. 2023 and Timshina et al. 2021), which disqualifies the "Biodegradable" label for the paper straw.

What do we know so far?

It is a commonly known fact that PFAS are used to provide water resistance for food contact materials (FCM), such as cutlery, kitchen tools, and dishes. However, it remains unclear how many percentages of the total PFAS concentration in plant-based FCMs have deliberately been added to the product and how many percentages can be regarded as background concentration from the recycling procedures. Non-intentionally added PFAS could be caused by the use of recycled contaminated paper fibers in the manufacture of new FCMs, or by contamination of source materials or processing water. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the actual source of PFAS in drinking straws since there are many variations and complexity in the potential background contamination. However, one thing that should be highlighted is that most PFAS barely break down and are accumulative and potentially toxic to humans, animals, and the environment (Boisacq et al. 2023). PFAS may cause detrimental health effects related to liver disease and reproductive issues (Lerch et al. 2023).

What next?

The development of plant-based products to substitute plastic-based materials to combat plastic pollution and its related issues is indeed very urgent but a thorough analysis of the materials should be conducted. Further research about the pathway of PFAS in paper straws to enter the human body and its direct impact on our health should be explored. Strict regulation and control from the government regarding toxic compounds is a must. We should also demand clear and honest labels (is it biodegradable? bio compostable? Or bio-based?) from the industry and marketers. But for now, if you really need to use a drinking straw, maybe use the stainless steel one.