A new way to beat single-use plastic

Say ‘pasta la vista’ to plastic straws

If you haven’t heard by now that plastic straws are bad news, then where have you been? The realisation that this kind of single-use plastic is detrimental to the environment has even led to a government ban on plastic straws, which will come into force in April 2020. So, whether at home or in a restaurant, pub or bar, we’re starting to see more eco-friendly alternatives to plastic straws, from paper to metal, but here’s a new one that piqued our interest: pasta straws. Yes, straws made out of pasta, also known as ‘stroodles’ (stroodles.co.uk) are the latest to grace our glasses. It might sound a bizarre concept, but they really do have their pros – they’re more durable than paper, lasting for hours in drinks rather than minutes, they are completely biodegradable and even edible (you could cook and eat them after use if you wanted to) and they’re flavourless when used in most drinks, although there was a very slight starchy flavour when we tried it with plain water. Founder Maxim Gelmann, aka Mr Stroodle, sells his stroodles to various bars. You can buy them online at amazon.co.uk.