The 4 Truths of PLA Straws

Whether it be part of legislation or conservation efforts, many brands are switching from plastic to a sustainable alternative, often PLA, without knowing the real truth about the dangers of a PLA straw.

• By Andy Romjue
• Sep 25, 2019

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time, with statistics showing there will be more plastic in the ocean than there are fish, by volume, by 2050. Restaurants, venues and establishments worldwide are working to combat plastic pollution by eliminating plastic straws. 

Recently, notable hospitality, restaurant and airline brands have eliminated single-use plastic straws, while cities like Seattle, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and more have banned plastic straws entirely. Whether it be part of legislation or conservation efforts, many brands are switching from plastic to a sustainable alternative, often PLA, without knowing the real truth about the dangers of a PLA straw.

Consumers, restaurants and businesses believe they are making an environmentally sound choice by using or offering PLA straws over single-use plastic straws. But, that’s not always the case.

PLA “biodegradable” straws are positioned as straws made from plants that can break down in the environment. They are made from naturally occurring, plant material such as renewable resources like cornstarch or sugar cane. While PLA plastic is typically a better alternative than its close relative, the traditional petroleum-based plastic, they aren’t the most environmentally sound option.  

Because many consumers and businesses are not aware of the real facts about PLA straws, outlined are four truths about PLA straws to consider before you decide to make the switch.

Truth #1: PLA straws require specific disposal conditions.

PLA straws require industrial composting conditions, meaning consumers or businesses must have access to a commercial compost facility, which are only available in certain parts of the U.S.

In order for PLA straws to compost, they require temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 consecutive days and need to be properly routed to specialized industrial composting or recycling facilities to break down. While this is possible in a composting facility, few facilities exist to break down PLA straws.

Truth #2: PLA straws can act the same as traditional plastic straws.

Many studies show that PLA straws are almost impossible to decompose in a landfill and cannot be composted at home or through backyard systems. Disposing any type of PLA, bioplastic or “plant-based” plastic straw is no different than throwing away a regular plastic straw.

Not only are PLA straws impossible to decompose in a landfill, like traditional plastic straws, they are especially dangerous if they end up in our waterways and ocean. Since they do not break down here, PLA straws are just as likely to be consumed by marine wildlife and fish, ultimately endangering or killing them.

Truth #3: Consumers don’t know the difference.

The issue with PLA straws is that people think they are using an environmentally-friendly product, which is true, if disposed of correctly. The reality is that they are not. People don’t know where to dispose of it and question whether it goes in a general recycling bin, the trash or a plastics recycling bin. The answer? None of the above.

Although PLA is compostable, PLA straws must be sorted and put into their own industrial composting collection bin – an option rarely found in the U.S.

An article from Smithsonian magazine explains, “Recycling facilities have problems with PLA too. They worry that consumers will simply dump PLA in with their PET … PLA and PET mix about as well as oil and water, recyclers consider PLA a contaminant. They have to pay to sort it out and pay again to dispose of it.”

The confusion surrounding PLA disposal becomes an even bigger issue when it is used outside of individual households and in foodservice settings.

Truth #4: PLA straws are cumbersome to operators.

While PLA straws are “compostable,” it cannot be mixed with other types of plastics because PLA has a lower melting temperature that causes problems at recycling centers. This means it cannot be recycled with other curbside recycling. 

Restaurants and businesses using PLA straws must sort their PLA products separately from other recyclables to have them commercially composted. They must also arrange a pickup or drop off at a commercial composter and pay to recycle PLA straws.

On top of having to clean and turn tables quickly, this means that restaurant operators must further separate tabletop garbage and recyclable items.

More education is needed to understand the process behind disposing of PLA, and there is a huge gap within the community as consumers believe using a PLA straw is an eco-friendly alternative to the plastic straw. We all have a social responsibility to teach businesses, consumers, family and friends the truth of PLA straws and what other sustainable options are available to us.

Your options for a greener planet

If you want to do Planet Earth a favor, the most sustainable choice is to not use a straw at all. Of course, many people need or want a straw to sip their beverage, and in that case, the most environmentally friendly options are reusable straws such as glass or stainless steel. These might be an option for personal use, but it is not for foodservice operations due to sanitation and safety concerns.

Other alternatives cause problems as well, like the wheat straw, avocado pit straw and noodle straw, as these straws have the possibility to cause allergic reactions and may have an unfavorable taste and texture.

Paper straws remain the best option for foodservice and venues because they are an environmentally safe, single-use option, but as we all know, not all paper straws are made equally.

As the paper straw movement grows, so does the number of paper straw options at our fingertips. Some paper straws are 100% compostable and made with FDA-approved adhesive, inks and papers and last multiple hours in liquid. Others give paper straws a bad reputation when they’re made with toxic dyes and break down in minutes.

The next time you are looking for a sustainable straw option, do some research and look for paper straws that are not only durable but use paper that was responsibly harvested.