Plastic-free straws with custom branding
Plastic straws may only be used for a few minutes, but their negative effects on the environment last a lifetime (and then some).
In 2018, plastic drinking straws have been in the media for all the wrong reasons with excessive consumption and disposal causing harm to gentle sea creatures, littering beaches around the world, to name a few.
BioPak offers a more sustainable alternative – compostable paper straws made from FSC® certified paper sourced from managed plantations. Plus, they’re carbon neutral and can be customised with branding or personalised designs.
The problem with plastic straws
1. A drain on finite resources
Conventional plastic straws are manufactured from polypropylene, a by-product of petroleum which requires a large amount of energy and natural resources to extract and refine. The demand for single-use food serviceware disposables – like straws – is expected to continue rising with the consumer desire for convenience.
But producing more plastic straws to keep up with demand means that we need oil and gas resources are required resulting in the depletion of finite resources and the creation of carbon emissions at every stage of production.
2. In the trash after only minutes of use
After their useful life of only a few minutes, plastic straws are thrown away. At best, they end up in recycling but difficult to pick out in the sorting process. This means they are rarely recovered and often ending up in already-crowded landfills.
3. Hundreds of years to decompose
When they’re disposed of, it’s believed straws take 500 years to decompose. And, if they end up in our waterways and oceans plastic straws never decompose. Instead, they break down into tiny fragments known as microplastics which are ingested by marine life and make their way up the food chain (fish eats plastic, human eats fish).
A more sustainable alternative
In 2018, BioPak launched a range of carbon neutral plastic-free straws made from FSC® certified paper. FSC® forest management certification confirms that the forest is being managed in a way that preserves the natural ecosystem and benefits the lives of local people and workers, all while ensuring it remains economically viable.
The straws are recyclable and compostable and come in regular, cocktail, and jumbo sizes with a wide range of designs – including Art Series designs. Plus, they can be customised with branding or unique personalised designs.
Benefits of custom branding
Adding your branding to packaging is a great way to advertise your brand, and extend a message of environmental awareness. Showing your support for the environment by choosing branded compostable straws helps connect with the conscious consumer, and position your business as a force for good.
While BioPak are strong advocates of the ‘Skip the Straw’ campaign, for instances where straws are used we recommend carbon neutral sustainably-sourced paper straws that can be recycled or composted as a more environmentally-friendly alternative.
