[Caelus9]

Some people are skeptical about biodegradable materials, but honestly, ten years ago nobody believed paper straws would catch on either. I think if we can turn leftover plant waste like grapevines into something useful, there's a real chance to start phasing out throwaway plastics in the kinds of products we only use once and forget.

[bn-usd-mistake]

Paper straws are horrible, I don't think they should be chosen as a counterexample to skepticism about biodegradable materials.

[mschild]

Agree. Give me a metal one or design the cups so that I don't need one at all.

[yesfitz]

You can buy reusable metal straws online or from a variety of retailers today, and you can remove (or refuse) the lid to a cup, at which point it can be used without a straw.

Another option would be to buy canned beverages rather than fountain drinks.

[account42]

Canned beverages also include a plastic lining.

[yesfitz]

That's true, and as far as my quick research has gone, the plastic is burned off during the smelting process of aluminum recycling.

Because of the small amount of plastic in each can, and the high heat of the smelting process, odds are good the thin plastic liner will be almost fully combusted, which should greatly reduce the amount of microplastics.[1]

1: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S03043...

[fdsfdsfdsaasd]

I can't belive that people have been fooled by the environmental credentials of "paper" straws.