{"id":2791,"date":"2024-05-20T00:12:04","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T16:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/?p=2791"},"modified":"2025-06-24T17:22:50","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T09:22:50","slug":"comparing-eco-friendly-straw-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/comparing-eco-friendly-straw-materials\/","title":{"rendered":"Sourcing Guide: Pros and Cons of Eco Straw Materials"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In recent years, global awareness of plastic reduction has been on the rise. Since July 2019, Taiwan\u2019s Environmental Protection Administration has banned the use of single-use plastic straws\u2014 a real pain in the neck for many restaurant owners.<\/p><p>This article is based on feedback from over 1,000 food and beverage businesses. We\u2019ve compared various eco-friendly straws in terms of ease of use, customer acceptance, and purchasing cost. The goal is to provide restaurant owners with a practical reference to help choose the most suitable straw for their specific needs\u2014supporting environmental policies while also enhancing customer satisfaction.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Single-Use Disposable Straw<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7d19\u5438\u7ba1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7d19\u5438\u7ba1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7d19\u5438\u7ba1-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7d19\u5438\u7ba1-600x167.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7d19\u5438\u7ba1-768x214.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7d19\u5438\u7ba1-1536x427.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7d19\u5438\u7ba1-18x5.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"translation-block\">Paper straws are primarily made from paper pulp and have been commercially available since the 19th century. To address the issue of paper straws becoming soggy when wet, manufacturers <span style=\"color: var(--theme-palette-color-2, #19B587)\" class=\"stk-highlight\">add chemicals* during production to improve their water resistance and durability<\/span>. However, these chemicals not only contribute to environmental pollution but may also raise health and ecological concerns.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Ease of Use: <\/strong>\n<br>Tends to absorb water and become soft; not suitable for warm or hot drinks, which affects the customer experience.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Customer Acceptance: <\/strong>\n<br>\nMost customers report disliking the soggy, mushy texture after the paper gets wet\u2014some even find the straw deforms before they can finish their drink.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Procurement Cost:<\/strong> \n<br>\nNT$0.5\u20132 per straw<\/li><\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/\u84b2\u8278\u5438\u7ba1-\u5b98\u7db2\u6587\u7ae0.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/\u84b2\u8278\u5438\u7ba1-\u5b98\u7db2\u6587\u7ae0.png 2000w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/\u84b2\u8278\u5438\u7ba1-\u5b98\u7db2\u6587\u7ae0-768x214.png 768w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/\u84b2\u8278\u5438\u7ba1-\u5b98\u7db2\u6587\u7ae0-1536x427.png 1536w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/\u84b2\u8278\u5438\u7ba1-\u5b98\u7db2\u6587\u7ae0-18x5.png 18w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/\u84b2\u8278\u5438\u7ba1-\u5b98\u7db2\u6587\u7ae0-300x83.png 300w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/\u84b2\u8278\u5438\u7ba1-\u5b98\u7db2\u6587\u7ae0-600x167.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"translation-block\">Grass straws are made by naturally hollow stems, preserving the plant\u2019s original form and aligning with today\u2019s health-conscious and eco-friendly lifestyle. Their stability and pleasant user experience help boost customer satisfaction. Most importantly, they can be <span style=\"color: var(--theme-palette-color-2, #19B587)\" class=\"stk-highlight\">tossed directly into the food waste bin<\/span> after use and decompose naturally\u2014offering both environmental sustainability and convenience. In the age of sustainability, they represent a new and promising choice for eco-friendly disposables.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Ease of Use:<\/strong>\n<br>\nSturdy and durable\u2014can pierce sealed drink films and is suitable for cold, warm, and hot beverages.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Customer Acceptance:<\/strong>\n<br> Its unique material and natural appearance draw attention, and most customers respond positively\u2014reporting that it doesn\u2019t affect the taste of the drink and offers a better experience than paper straws.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Procurement Cost:<\/strong>\n<br>\n NT$0.4\u20131.38 per straw<\/li><\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u690d\u7e96\u5438\u7ba1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u690d\u7e96\u5438\u7ba1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u690d\u7e96\u5438\u7ba1-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u690d\u7e96\u5438\u7ba1-600x167.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u690d\u7e96\u5438\u7ba1-768x214.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u690d\u7e96\u5438\u7ba1-1536x427.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u690d\u7e96\u5438\u7ba1-18x5.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"translation-block\">Plant fiber straws are made from agricultural waste such as wheat stalks, coffee grounds, and sugarcane bagasse. Since these materials are loose and powdery, <span style=\"color: var(--theme-palette-color-2, #19B587)\" class=\"stk-highlight\">binders must be added during production to shape and mold them into straws<\/span>. However, the chemical components in these binders may pose potential health risks. Some restaurant owners have shared that plant fiber straws don\u2019t store well\u2014unopened packages may start to become brittle after just six months to a year.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Ease of Use:<\/strong>\n<br>\n Similar in performance to plastic straws and relatively sturdy, but not suitable for warm or hot beverages.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Customer Acceptance:<\/strong>\n<br>\n The appearance often shows visible specks, but the overall user experience is nearly identical to plastic straws\u2014many customers even mistake them for plastic.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Procurement Cost:<\/strong>\n<br>\nNT$0.55\u20131 per straw<\/li><\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_PLA\u5438\u7ba1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_PLA\u5438\u7ba1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_PLA\u5438\u7ba1-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_PLA\u5438\u7ba1-600x167.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_PLA\u5438\u7ba1-768x214.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_PLA\u5438\u7ba1-1536x427.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_PLA\u5438\u7ba1-18x5.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"translation-block\">PLA, or polylactide, is made by fermenting, dehydrating, and purifying plant fibers. <span style=\"color: var(--theme-palette-color-2, #19B587)\" class=\"stk-highlight\">It looks very similar to regular plastic<\/span>\u2014most commonly transparent but can be dyed various colors. If the packaging doesn\u2019t specifically state that the material is PLA, most customers will assume it\u2019s a plastic straw. <span style=\"color: var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff);background-color: #f34957\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Although PLA is a biodegradable^ plastic, Taiwan currently lacks proper recycling facilities for it<\/span>. As a result, <a href=\"https:\/\/e-info.org.tw\/node\/236052\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Environmental Protection Administration banned the use of PLA tableware starting August 2023<\/a>.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Ease of Use:<\/strong>\n<br>\nPerformance similar to plastic straws and relatively sturdy.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Customer Acceptance:<\/strong>\n<br>\n The appearance and feel are almost identical to plastic straws, and many customers mistake them for plastic.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Procurement Cost: <\/strong>\n<br>\nNT$0.6\u20132 per straw<\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">reusable straws<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7af9\u5438\u7ba1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7af9\u5438\u7ba1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7af9\u5438\u7ba1-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7af9\u5438\u7ba1-600x167.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7af9\u5438\u7ba1-768x214.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7af9\u5438\u7ba1-1536x427.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u7af9\u5438\u7ba1-18x5.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure><p>With its simple and elegant appearance, bamboo has recently become a popular material for eco-friendly straws. Bamboo straws are made from natural bamboo, but they do have some drawbacks. Cleaning and sanitizing them can be troublesome, and their opaque surface makes it hard to tell if they\u2019re fully clean. Especially in Taiwan\u2019s humid climate, improper care can lead to bacterial growth. Therefore, businesses need to replace bamboo straws regularly to avoid food safety issues.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Ease of Use:<\/strong><br>\n Sturdy and durable<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Customer Acceptance:<\/strong><br> Bamboo\u2019s simple and stylish look attracts customers to take photos, though some have concerns about hygiene.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Procurement Cost:<\/strong><br> NT$20\u201370 per straw<\/li><\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u4e0d\u93fd\u92fc\u5438\u7ba1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u4e0d\u93fd\u92fc\u5438\u7ba1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u4e0d\u93fd\u92fc\u5438\u7ba1-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u4e0d\u93fd\u92fc\u5438\u7ba1-600x167.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u4e0d\u93fd\u92fc\u5438\u7ba1-768x214.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u4e0d\u93fd\u92fc\u5438\u7ba1-1536x427.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Blog_\u4e0d\u93fd\u92fc\u5438\u7ba1-18x5.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure><p>Stainless steel straws are currently the most common choice. In commercial use, they are drop-resistant and resistant to oxidation, making storage and maintenance relatively easy. However, stainless steel straws share a similar cleaning challenge: their opaque surface makes it difficult to tell if they are thoroughly cleaned. If not properly cleaned, bacteria or mold can grow. Additionally, stainless steel straws may have a metallic taste, which some customers feel slightly affects the flavor of their drinks.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Ease of Use:<\/strong><br>\n Sturdy and durable<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Customer Acceptance:<\/strong>\n<br>\nThe texture is hard and may have a metallic taste. When used with hot drinks, it conducts heat quickly and can cause burns. Some customers also express concerns about hygiene.<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Procurement Cost:<\/strong><br>\nNT$30\u2013300 per straw<\/li><\/ul><blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Chemicals: Persistent harmful substances such as PFAS (used as waterproof coatings), fluorescent agents, bleach, and other chemical compounds.<\/p>\n\n<p>Biodegradable: Requires industrial composting conditions (high temperature and high humidity). Currently, Taiwan\u2019s recycling facilities cannot handle large volumes of biodegradable plastics, so their disposal is no different from traditional plastic straws.<\/p><\/blockquote><pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>\u6700\u5f8c\uff0c\u8278\u6c11\u60f3\u5927\u529b\u63a8\u85a6\u5404\u4f4d\u6539\u7528\u4e00\u6b21\u6027\u7684\u84b2\u8349\u5438\u7ba1\uff0c\u5728\u5e97\u9762\u6709\u9650\u7684\u6642\u9593\u5206\u914d\u4e0a\uff0c<span style=\"color: var(--theme-palette-color-2, #19B587);\" class=\"stk-highlight\">\u7528\u5b8c\u5c31\u4e1f\u5927\u5927\u7bc0\u7701\u6e05\u6d17\u6642\u9593\uff0c\u7121\u9700\u64d4\u5fc3\u6e05\u6d17\u4e0d\u4e7e\u6de8\u6216\u6ecb\u751f\u7d30\u83cc\u7684\u554f\u984c<\/span>\uff0c\u4f7f\u7528\u8d77\u4f86\u65e2\u65b9\u4fbf\u53c8\u5b89\u5168\uff0c\u84b2\u8349\u5438\u7ba1\u5929\u7136\u74b0\u4fdd\uff0c\u53ef\u81ea\u7136\u5206\u89e3\uff0c\u4e0d\u6703\u5c0d\u74b0\u5883\u9020\u6210\u8ca0\u64d4\uff0c\u56e0\u70ba\u5b83\u5c31\u662f\u4e00\u6839\u8349\u554a\uff01<\/code><\/pre><div class=\"wp-block-stackable-call-to-action stk-block-call-to-action stk-block stk-5237767 is-style-default\" data-block-id=\"5237767\"><div class=\"stk-block-call-to-action__content stk-content-align stk-5237767-column stk-container stk-5237767-container stk-hover-parent\"><div class=\"has-text-align-center stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks\"><div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-9ca5815\" data-block-id=\"9ca5815\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">Contact us for free samples and detailed information.\n<br>\nGrass Straws are the perfect solution for both business and the environment!\n<br>\nTake action now!<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button-group stk-block-button-group stk-block stk-baf4daa\" data-block-id=\"baf4daa\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-button-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button stk-block-button stk-block stk-de76d6e\" data-block-id=\"de76d6e\"><a class=\"stk-link stk-button stk--hover-effect-darken\" href=\"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/products\/\"><span class=\"stk-button__inner-text\">Learn More About Grass Straws<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u8fd1\u5e7e\u5e74\u5168\u7403\u6e1b\u5851\u610f\u8b58\u5347\u8d77\uff0c\u81fa\u7063\u74b0\u4fdd\u7f72\u57282019\u5e747\u6708\u8d77\u7981\u7528\u4e00\u6b21\u6027\u5851\u81a0\u5438\u7ba1\uff0c\u76f8\u4fe1\u8b93\u5404\u4f4d\u9910\u98f2\u8001\u95c6\u5011\u50b7\u900f\u8166\u7b4b\uff0c\u74b0\u4fdd\u5438\u7ba1 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2798,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-trends"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2791"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4403,"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2791\/revisions\/4403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wondergreener.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}