Are Paper Straws Good or Bad? Everything you should know

Everything You Wanted to Know About Paper Straws 

Paper straws get people talking. Some love them, some hate them, and plenty of us just feel stuck with them when there aren’t other options on the table. With bamboo, silicone (my personal favourite) and metal straws around, it’s natural to wonder why paper straws haven’t exactly won everyone over.

I pulled together some of the most common questions people ask about paper straws and tried to answer them as clearly as possible.

Why are paper straws bad?
They’re not terrible in every sense, but they do come with a few issues. They go soggy pretty quickly. If you’ve ever had one collapse halfway through a drink, you’ll know the feeling. They change the taste. Some people notice a papery flavour sneaking into their drink. And they confuse people environmentally. While they’re supposed to break down faster than plastic, many are coated with materials that actually make them harder to recycle or compost.

Why do people use paper straws in the UK?
In 2020 the UK banned single use plastic straws, and paper straws were the obvious replacement. They don’t last as long in a drink, but they break down faster in the environment and don’t harm marine life in the same way. That’s why cafés and restaurants reached for them first.

What are paper straws made of?
Mostly paper, as you’d expect. The majority are made from virgin pulp, which is just fresh paper that hasn’t been recycled before. It’s used because it’s safer for food contact. The paper is layered and glued to form the familiar straw shape.

What are paper straws coated with?
Sometimes they’re left uncoated, but often you’ll find a layer of wax or biodegradable plastic. It helps slow down the sogginess. The trade off is that coatings can make the straw harder to recycle.

What holds a paper straw together?

Glue. Usually water based and non toxic. But once that glue is up against liquid for long enough, the straw starts breaking down.

Can paper straws be recycled?
Technically yes, but in practice not very often. Their size and soggy state make them difficult for recycling facilities to process. Most end up in general waste.

Can paper straws have gluten?
Surprisingly, yes. Some glues used in paper straws are made from wheat starch. If you’re sensitive to gluten, it’s worth checking with the manufacturer.

Why do paper straws go soggy so quickly?
It’s simply the nature of paper. It absorbs liquid, swells, and then loses its structure. Add glue that weakens when wet, and you’re left with a floppy straw.

Are paper straws worse than plastic?
It depends what you’re measuring. For the environment, paper straws are the better choice. Plastic straws last for centuries and harm wildlife, while paper breaks down much faster. For drinking experience, plastic straws last longer and don’t collapse in your iced coffee. Paper struggles here. For recycling, neither do well. Plastic straws can’t be recycled, and most paper straws don’t make it through either.

So, what’s the verdict?

Paper straws aren’t perfect. They do the job, but not always gracefully. Still, they’re a step in the right direction compared to plastic. That said, if you want to avoid soggy drinks altogether, reusable silicone straws might be the answer. They’re durable, safe, easy to clean and they’ll never disintegrate halfway through your smoothie.

If you’re curious, you can take a look at our range at The Silicone Straw Company. Switching to silicone means fewer soggy straws in your life