With increasing pushback against single-use plastics, recycled and biodegradable straws have seen a surge in interest. As a company that manufactures and distributes biodegradable straws wholesale, we’re here to guide you through the sustainable straw market, not only for compliance with regulations but also for making informed choices that benefit the Earth. In the sections that follow, we will explore the characteristics, benefits, and challenges of recycled vs biodegradable straws, to help you make environmentally friendly decisions that align with your company’s values and needs.
Challenges of Recycled Polypropylene Straws
Recovered plastic from oceans and recycled polypropylene offer materials that reduce waste in landfills and on beaches. Providing straws sourced from these reused materials is a step in the right direction, but businesses should also be aware of its limitations in fully addressing environmental concerns.
While you are recovering plastics from oceans or leveraging recycled materials, the end product is of course still made of plastic. This means that all straws produced must be collected again to ensure true sustainability, but this is simply not possible, meaning at least some of your straws will still end up in a landfill taking as long as 500 years to degrade. Even if the straws could be recovered every time, the transportation and processing could end up still having a negative effect compared to biodegradable alternatives.
Recycled vs Biodegradable and Compostable Straws
Understanding Compostability and Biodegradability
Compostable straws are made from organic, plant-based materials that can break down in a composting environment, returning nutrients to the soil. Biodegradable straws, while also designed to break down more quickly than traditional plastics, may not necessarily compost completely if the materials haven’t been certified by the manufacturer. In either case, the goal of these straws is not to be continually reformed into new products, but to be conveniently disposed of after use without negatively impacting the environment. UrthPact straws are unique in that they are certified to biodegrade in landfills or even on the side of the road if they are disposed of incorrectly.
Choosing Biodegradable and Compostable Straws
Traditional plastic straws can take hundreds of years to decompose, while biodegradable options can break down in a matter of months under appropriate conditions. This is one of the ways biodegradable and compostable straws contribute to the circular economy, a model that emphasizes sustainability by minimizing waste through continuous reuse and regeneration of resources. When these straws are disposed of, they transform into rich compost, enriching soil health and supporting new plant growth. Many wholesale biodegradable straws are made from bioplastics, which are sourced from plants that can be grown on the soil they enrich when composted. By choosing these alternatives, your customers feel good about supporting companies that prioritize environmentally-sound practices, thereby pushing the market toward lower-impact production methods.
A Quick Note on Marine Biodegradable Straws
Marine biodegradable straws take things a step further, as they are specifically designed to break down in marine environments, unlike traditional biodegradable straws that may only decompose with land environment exposure. The key benefit is versatility in disposal. You can’t always control the way that consumers will dispose of your products or where municipal waste companies dump trash, so crafting solutions that will not harm the environment regardless of their disposal method is a major benefit to keep in mind.
Get Your Biodegradable Straws Wholesale from UrthPact
UrthPact recognizes the financial considerations of businesses transitioning to sustainable products. By ordering biodegradable straws wholesale, businesses can benefit from truckload pricing, making it more economical to switch away from single-use plastics. As environmental regulations become stricter and consumers increasingly demand sustainable options, early adoption of biodegradable products can protect businesses from potential future fines and improve customer loyalty.
While the financial benefits of these products are a major consideration, the main benefit of environmentally sound practices is to our planet. Partner with UrthPact today for your 100% made-in-the-USA biodegradable and compostable straws and become a part of the solution to the plastic epidemic.
