Biodegradable Straws Show Promise in Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution

Study finds certain materials degrade up to 50% in 16 weeks, with foamed cellulose diacetate straws showing the fastest degradation rate.

Scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Eastman, a bioplastic manufacturing company, conducted a study to understand the environmental lifetimes of various straws in the ocean.
The study found that straws made from cellulose diacetate (CDA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and paper degraded by up to 50% over 16 weeks, indicating environmental lifetimes of 10-20 months.
Straws made from polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene (PP) showed no measurable signs of degradation.
A prototype straw made from foamed CDA degraded 184% faster than its solid counterpart, indicating a shorter environmental lifetime than paper straws.
The study highlighted the potential of CDA-based straws as a sustainable alternative that could reduce the impact of plastic pollution on marine life and ecosystems.