Paper straws may do more harm to the environment than plastic ones, according to a study commissioned by South Korea's environment ministry, the South China Morning Post reports.
The Comprehensive Study on Single-Use Straws, ordered by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, was made public on Wednesday by opposition People Power Party lawmaker Kim Wi-sang, as first reported by The Korea Herald.
It found that paper and bio-based straws produce higher emissions over their whole life cycle than conventional plastic straws. Paper straws were rated as having 6.33 times the carcinogenic impact, a measure of potential cancer risk from emissions during production and disposal rather than from using them.
The findings have revived debate over whether switching materials really cuts waste, with calls instead to reduce single-use items altogether.
Source: SCMP Asia
