Paper Straws May Pose Greater Environmental, Health Risks Than Plastic, Study Suggests
A South Korean assessment indicates paper straws could carry a higher pollution-related health burden than conventional plastic.
Paper straws, often promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic, may carry a greater pollution-related health burden, according to a new assessment commissioned by South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment.
The study, conducted by the Korean Society for Life Cycle Assessment, compared paper, plastic, and other disposable straw types in terms of their impact on human health and the environment from production through disposal.
Researchers found that paper straws scored 6.33 times higher than conventional plastic straws on an estimate of cancer-related harm from pollution generated during their life cycle. However, the researchers emphasized that this score estimates potential harm from pollution generated during production and disposal, not from chemical exposure or cancer risk directly associated with drinking through the straw.
The assessment evaluated 16 environmental impacts, assuming that approximately 74% of discarded straws were incinerated and 26% were sent to landfills, based on South Korean waste statistics. Conventional plastic straws performed better in 10 of these 16 categories.
The study did not measure chemical leaching into drinks or assess health outcomes among straw users. It did not evaluate biodegradable plastic or bio-based polyethylene (bio-PE) straws across all metrics, focusing primarily on paper and conventional plastic.
Based on the findings, researchers recommended that stores provide disposable straws only upon request, according to The Korea Herald.
These findings echo concerns previously raised by some lawmakers. South Korean lawmaker Kim Wi-sang, whose office received the report, criticized restrictions on plastic straws, arguing that alternatives had not delivered their promised environmental benefits. His comments align with sentiments expressed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has also criticized paper straws as ineffective and potentially posing health risks. Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 directing federal agencies to cease purchasing and providing paper straws and to develop a national strategy for their elimination.
Prior reporting by Fox News Digital has highlighted concerns about chemicals in straws, including a 2023 University of Antwerp study that detected PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in 27 out of 39 tested straw brands, with paper straws most frequently containing these substances. A European food-service packaging association has stated that its member companies adhere to a no-PFAS policy and enforce food-contact safety requirements.