Study suggests paper straws may not be better for the environment after plastic ban

The Government banned the sale of single-use plastic straws back in 2020, in a bid to reduce plastic waste

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'Eco friendly' paper drinking straws actually may not be better for the environment than their plastic counterparts, researches have warned.

Long lasting 'forever chemicals' which are potentially harmful to people, wildlife and the environment, were discovered in 18 out of 20 branded paper straws in a study carried out by Belgian researchers.

The UK banned the sale of single-use plastic products like straws, cotton buds and stirrers back in 2020 - with a growing number of countries also choosing to do so.

In the first analysis of its kind spanning Europe, researchers tested 39 brands of straws for a group of synthetic chemicals dubbed poly-and-perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These were found in the majority of the straws tested - most common in those manufactured using paper and bamboo.

Read more: Plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds will be banned

The study, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Food Additives and Contaminants, saw a team of researches collect 39 brands of drinking straw constructed from five materials. These included paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and plastic.

These were sourced mainly from shops, supermarkets and fast-food restaurants, and were subsequently put through two rounds of PFAS testing. A total 27 out of 39 - or 69% - of these, contained PFAS, with 18 different types of PFAS detected in total.

Paper straws were most likely to contain PFAS, with chemicals found in 90% of the brands which were sourced. PFAS were also detected in four out of five brands of bamboo straw, three out of four plastic straw brands and two out of five glass straws.

Interestingly, they were not detected whatsoever in any of the five types of steel straw. The presence of the chemical in the majority of paper straw brands, means that it is in some cases being used as a water-repellent coating - according to researchers.

The study failed to look at whether PFAS would bleed from the straws into liquids. The most prevalent type of PFAS found - in the form of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been banned worldwide since 2020.

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS) were also detected - highly water soluble and holding the potential to leach from straws and into drinks, according to the study. Researchers detailed that PFAS concentrations were low however, and posed a limited risk to human health.

But PFAS could build up over time after remaining in the body for a number of years - the team warned. These chemicals are used to make everyday products, from clothing to non-stick pans - resistant to water, heat and staining. They eventually break down over time, and can remain in the environment over thousands of years.

This is a property which has led to them being dubbed 'forever chemicals'. They have also been associated with a number of health problems, including lower vaccine response, lower birth weight, thyroid disease, kidney damage and testicular cancer.

Speaking on PFAS, Dr Thimo Groffen - an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp - said: "Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body. We did not detect any PFAS in stainless steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use this type of straw – or just avoid using straws at all.

"Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic. However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that’s not necessarily true."