Are Bamboo Straws Environmentally Friendly?
Bamboo is the material of the moment. From bicycles to socks and everything in between, bamboo is the material to use. This has led to the rise of bamboo straws, but are bamboo straws environmentally friendly?
The short answer is: Yes! Bamboo straws are environmentally friendly, not just in their own right but also when compared to other competing types of straw. The UK government recently phased out the use of plastic straws, and this means the race is on to find the next straw material.
What Are The Options?
When plastic is ruled out, there are not many options left for mass-produced straws. The main options are paper and metal, and both have obvious drawbacks. Paper straws are unstable and quickly get soggy and damaged. This is not great for boba and, even worse for trying to suck up the pearls that make bubble tea unique.
Metal straws are increasingly popular choices for ethical and environmentally conscious consumers. But the metal straws available are generally not wide enough for bubble tea and often leave a metallic taste in your mouth – not great!
In a previous post, we looked at the rise of bamboo straws, and today we are going to take a closer look at the environmental credentials of this new option.
Are Bamboo Straws Environmentally Friendly?
As we said, the short answer is yes! And here are 5 reasons you can rest easy knowing the planet is in safe hands with our bamboo straws.
1 – Bamboo is all over the world
Bamboo is grown all over the world. It is a rugged, resilient plant that can thrive in both tropical and temperate climates. This means that wherever you are in the world, there will be a ready supply of bamboo. Shorter transport times and ease of access to materials are kinder to the environment and the climate.
2 – How bamboo is grown
Bamboo is grown completely naturally and does not require any chemicals or pesticides. This is better for the earth and healthy for the soil. Bamboo also absorbs huge amounts of CO2, and the plants grow to full maturity up to 5 times faster than most trees. This means that bamboo plants can be harvested again and again without the need to take up more land. Bamboo grows from its roots, meaning that no replanting is necessary!
3 – How the straws are made
Bamboo really is nature's straw! As a naturally thin, hollow material made up of tough fibres, we can't think of a better material to use. The process of creating bamboo straws is quick, efficient, and requires no artificial chemicals.
The end result is a rigid and resilient straw that will not crack or get soggy when left in liquid for too long. And Boba tastes great when sucked through a bamboo straw!
4 – The straws are reusable
Like the best things in life, you can use your bamboo straw over and over again. As a completely natural product, these straws are reusable, unlike paper straws.
5 – Everything is biodegradable
Once you have used your bamboo straw to its full potential, simply compost it to return the nutrients to nature. The bamboo will decompose fastest when exposed to sunlight directly and in the presence of soil and moisture. But don't worry; you will get plenty of reuse out of your straw first!
Contact us here at Taipec for all of your consumables and biodegradable straws.