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Eco-Friendly Alternative to Plastic Straws

With the impact of plastic straws and their environmental repercussions being top of mind, there’s never been a better time for new eco alternatives. Even companies such as Starbucks are eliminating single-use plastic straws from its cafés worldwide by the year 2020 because of the massive negative environmental impact on the world’s oceans.

Taiwanese start-up company 100% Plants is taking positive action by using simple chemicals to transform sugarcane waste into polymer raw materials that are used to create biodegradable straws. Studies with the National Taiwan Ocean University are now underway to determine how quickly these straws break down in ocean water or in a fish’s stomach. The company is also investigating using bamboo waste to create disposable utensils which will be biodegradable.