South Korean study finds paper straws may harm environment more than plastic

A study commissioned by the South Korean Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment has found that paper straws can have a higher environmental impact than standard plastic straws. The research, conducted by the Korean Society for Life Cycle Assessment, evaluated four types of straws: standard plastic, paper, biodegradable plastic, and sugar cane based plastic across 16 environmental categories.

Results indicated that standard plastic straws had the lowest impact in 10 of the 16 categories, including climate change, human toxicity, and particulate matter. In contrast, paper straws showed a carcinogenic impact over six times higher than plastic straws and a twofold higher impact on acidification. These metrics measure environmental emissions rather than direct consumer health risks.

The study also noted that paper straws are rarely recycled in practice because their small size causes them to bypass sorting machinery. Additionally, the substances used to make paper straws water-resistant can increase energy consumption during processing. Following the release of the findings, South Korean lawmaker Kim Wi-sang criticized the government and environmental groups for "greenwashing" through the promotion of inefficient replacement materials.