Paper straws: Beware of cancer risk!

Paper drinking straws have to be processed and chemically treated in a complex way to stop them immediately disintegrating in liquid. On the one hand, this leads to a poor ecological footprint; on the other hand, the chemicals used—particularly with hot or alcoholic beverages—enter the drink and are consumed with it. For example: setting resins are added in order to make the straws sturdier; these then pass into the drink and dissolve into it.

3-MCPD, a potentially carcinogenic fatty acid, has been found in paper drinking straws.

Independent studies at the University of Florida and Stiftung Warentest in Germany have shown that toxic chemicals, suspected of causing cancer, thyroid diseases, impairment of the immune system, and more, are often added to paper drinking straws.

Plus, using these chemicals not only stops the straws softening in drinks, but also prevents them from disintegrating in paper recycling plants. This means that paper straws are not recyclable and cannot be thrown out with recycled paper. Disposing of them in a waste incineration plant releases carcinogenic substances such as dioxins and furans as well as carbon dioxide.

Producing the paper for these straws also consumes an enormous amount of water, wood, and energy. By switching to paper drinking straws, there may end up being less garbage in the oceans, but there won't be any rainforest left in Brazil.

Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653521007074#abs0020
https://www.rtl.de/cms/papier-trinkhalme-gefaehrlich-fuer-kinder-moeglicherweise-krebserregender-stoff-gefunden-4856388.html

Not tasteless

Contains chemical additives e.g. stabilisers

Not dishwasher
suitable

Poor ecological balance

Not recyclable and not compostable!

Advantages

• Visually appealing
• Recyclable
• Hygienic
• Shatterproof

Disadvantages

• disposable
• Contain carcinogenic substances
• Poor ecological footprint due to elaborate processing that stops the paper going soft quickly in beverages
• High water and energy consumption
• Not recyclable - disposal only via residual waste
• Non biodegradable
• Not tasteless
• Consumption of wood resources contributes to damaging the rainforests

Balance:

"Once doesn't count" doesn't apply to single-use paper straws.

The better alternative:

Sliderstraw

Safe and sustainable

With SLIDERSTRAW, a reusable drinking straw is now available that is safe and sustainable for both health and the environment, and looks great at the same time: SLIDERSTRAW can be opened, cleaned as often as you like in the dishwasher, and used again and again—for both hot and cold drinks, and also for use in catering.

Buy Sliderstraw