Study: Paper Straws Carry Higher Environmental Toll Than Plastic Ones

A recent South Korean government- commissioned life- cycle assessment found that paper straws (and other common “eco- friendly” alternatives) had higher impacts than conventional plastic straws in multiple environmental categories.

The study (commissioned by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and conducted by the Korean Society for Life Cycle Assessment, roughly May 2025- April 2026) compared four single- use straw types across 16 impact categories covering raw- material production through disposal: conventional plastic (typically polypropylene), paper, biodegradable plastic, and bio- based polyethylene (bio- PE, e.g., from sugarcane or similar plant sources, which is chemically similar to conventional PE and does not readily biodegrade).

Disposal assumptions reflected national statistics (about 73.6% incineration and 26.4% landfill). The results were publicly disclosed around mid- to- late October 2026 by Rep. Kim Wi- sang.⁠

Key comparative findings (relative to conventional plastic):

• Paper straws: ~6.33 times higher human carcinogenic impact (a modeled life-cycle emissions metric, not a measure of cancer risk from drinking through the straw); ~2.04 times higher acidification impact. They ranked highest impact in three categories overall (e.g., mineral resource depletion, ionizing radiation, freshwater eutrophication in some reports).
• Bio- PE straws: Even higher in several areas, ~16.18 times carcinogenic impact and ~5.9 times acidification; highest impact in 10 of 16 categories (including ozone depletion, acidification, and smog-related measures in reports).
• Biodegradable plastic straws: ~3.34 times carcinogenic impact and ~1.98 times acidification.
• Conventional plastic had the lowest impact in 10 of the 16 categories, including climate change, acidification, particulate matter, and human toxicity (in the reported results).⁠

Researchers noted that all straw types are difficult to recycle in practice (small size hinders sorting; coatings and adhesives on paper versions add complications).

A related survey found strong preference for plastic straws among respondents. The recommendation was to stop providing any disposable straws by default and offer them only on request, focusing on reducing single- use items overall rather than material substitution. South Korea had restricted plastic straws in cafes and restaurants in 2022 but later extended a grace period amid practical issues.⁠

This aligns with the broader pattern in life- cycle assessments of single- use items: “greener” material switches can shift burdens (e.g., to production energy, water use, chemicals, or different emissions) rather than eliminate them, and real -world end -of- life performance often differs from idealized claims.

Earlier studies on straws and similar products have sometimes reached mixed or context- dependent conclusions depending on location, energy mix, and impact categories prioritized.

The carcinogenic and acidification figures here are relative modeled impacts from the full life cycle, not direct consumer health risks from use.