Factory Shutdown! Paper Straws Gone? The Straws You Drink Your Milk Tea With Have Changed Again

       More than a year ago, the strictest plastic ban in history came into effect, banning the use of non-degradable disposable plastic straws in the catering industry nationwide. Paper straws were thus introduced to the market as the preferred alternative to plastic straws, however, more than a year has passed and reporters visiting catering companies in Beijing have found that paper straws are hard to find in the market.

　　Paper straws are hard to find

　　Polylactic acid straws are now on the market

　　In a Beijing shopping mall, a reporter visited a number of chain drinks shops and found that the once popular paper straws were rarely seen, with a type of biodegradable straw called PLA taking over the mainstream. These straws are marked on the outer packaging: PLA straws, also known as polylactic acid straws, are made from starch extracted from plants such as corn, wheat and cassava, and are fully biodegradable.

　　In a beverage shop, the reporter observed that the appearance and hardness of this biodegradable straw, called PLA, was similar to that of plastic straws.

　　The shopkeeper told the reporter that it is suitable for temperatures from -10°C to 70°C, and can be used for cold drinks and hot drinks, and most consumers prefer PLA straws to paper straws.

　　A beverage brand responsible for the procurement cost of their plastic straws in about 5, 6 cents each, paper straws in about 7, 8 cents, and polylactic acid material straws, each probably to 12 to 13 cents or so. Despite the higher cost, they decided to replace most of the straws with PLA straws from the point of view of user experience.

　　Domestic orders for paper straws shrink dramatically

　　Production equipment sold off at low prices

　　The expansion of PLA straws on one side and the fall of paper straws on the other are natural. For paper straw producers, the rollercoaster experience of the past year or so, from big to big, is still being digested so far.

     In the long run, with the promotion of regulation, increased awareness of environmental protection and the declining cost of biodegradable straws brought about by technological iterations, biodegradable straws still have plenty of room for development in the future.

　　Weng Yunxuan, secretary-general of China Plastics Processing Industry Association's Professional Committee of Degradable Plastics: In 2020, the domestic production capacity of PLA was only about 60,000 tons, but now PLA's production capacity is already at 150,000 tons.

       With the increase in production capacity, the price of PLA will come down. I believe that as the cost performance of paper straws or biodegradable plastic straws improves, the usage should gradually increase.