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It turns out paper straws might not be as eco-friendly as they’ve been touted to be.
A study conducted in Belgium has found that paper straws contain “forever chemicals” that can cause worse damage – for a longer period of time – than their plastic counterparts. “Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic,” says Thimo Groffen, author of the study. “However, the presence of poly- and perfluoroalkyl-based substances known as ‘forever chemicals’ in these straws means that’s not necessarily true.”
To conduct the study, researchers examined several types of straws – and found that 90 percent of paper straws contained PFAs. Bamboo follows with 80 percent, while plastic straws check in at 75 percent, according to the study. “The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws shows they are not necessarily biodegradable,” Groffen says, adding that the only straws found to have no PFAs were those made of steel.
In the past, what other things have consumers been misled on?