Since July 2021, plastic straws may no longer be sold in the EU. The UK alone contributes to 4.93 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, of which 3,570 tonnes are straws. So even restaurateurs with huge stocks are starting to look for alternatives.
In this article, we would like to show you which alternative products to plastic straws are currently available on the market and what advantages and disadvantages they have.
After all, your customers should still be able to enjoy delicious cocktails or milkshakes! What would they be without a straw?
Why are straws so popular?
Straws are an integral part of everyday life and especially in gastronomy. Leaving the environmental aspect aside for now, there are a number of benefits to using straws:
- Better hygiene
- Protection from insects
- Easy drinking for kids
- Nicer look
- Encourages you to drink more
Straw Alternatives
When it comes to straw alternatives, you can differentiate between reusable and disposable products. Of course, which one you want to use in your catering business depends not least on the use.
While it should be easy to switch to reusable straws in a cocktail bar, restaurateurs who offer takeaway milkshakes, for example, usually have to replace their plastic straws with other single-use straws.
Material |
Reusable |
Pros |
Cons |
Stainless Steel |
Yes | · Long lifetime
· Recyclable · Dishwasher safe · Shatterproof · Tasteless |
· Opaque |
Glass |
Yes | · Long lifetime
· Recyclable · Dishwasher safe · Tasteless · Transparent -> Hygiene |
· Not shatterproof |
Bamboo |
Yes | · Renewable raw material
· Compostable · Stable |
· Own taste
· Cleaning · Lifespan · Discolouration possible |
Silicone |
Yes | · Long lifetime
· Dishwasher safe · Shatterproof |
· Cleaning
· Contain plastics · Not biodegradable / recyclable |
Paper |
No | · Renewable raw material
· Biodegradable · Recyclable · Shatterproof · Hygiene |
· Softening / soaking
· Own taste · Disposable product |
Starch |
No | · Renewable raw material
· Biodegradable · Compostable · Shatterproof · Hygiene |
· Only suitable for cold drinks
· Own taste · Disposable product |
Apple |
No | · Renewable raw material
· Biodegradable · Compostable · Shatterproof · Hygiene · Edible |
· Own taste
· Disposable product |
Pasta |
No | · Renewable raw material
· Biodegradable · Hygiene · Edible · Tasteless |
· Disposable product |
Straw |
No | · Renewable raw material
· Biodegradable · Compostable · Shatterproof · Hygiene |
· Softening / soaking
· Own taste · Disposable product |
Conclusion: Are straw alternatives really that better?
Not always. Whether the new straws are better ultimately depends on how they are produced and how often they are actually used. Since single-use plastic is often replaced by other single-use products made of coated paper, bamboo or wood, this means in many cases a similarly high ecological footprint, since coated products are difficult to recycle. As a restaurateur, you should therefore avoid using straws wherever possible and try to use reusable alternatives or straws made from natural, uncoated products.
