"Green Planet" Straws That Decompose Even in the Ocean

Hello everyone

This time, I'd like to introduce a product I found at Daiso that isn't made of thread or fiber, but from Kaneka Corporation.

And here it is!

These straws actually decompose even in seawater!

When you take them out, you'll see the Green Planet logo on the front.

On the back, you can see that they are 100% plant-derived and certified for marine biodegradability.

Recently, there's been a lot of talk about environmental protection, and looking back, I think the catalyst for this movement was the video of a straw painfully stuck in a sea turtle's nose.

While paper straws are already an option, I've heard complaints about the taste and feel, and having more options is always better.

There are other biodegradable plastics like PLA and BioPBS, but the reality is that these decompose very slowly in water. These two types of straws are biodegradable in compost, which is a high-temperature, high-humidity environment, or in soil.

In contrast, Green Planet straws decompose not only in compost and soil, but also in seawater.

According to the product label, microorganisms are involved in the decomposition, primarily into water and carbon dioxide.

The words "sea" and "plastic" bring to mind the problem of microplastics.

When we think of plastic, we usually think of resin-formed items like shopping bags and PET bottles, but the polyester used in clothing is also a type of plastic.

Some studies suggest that more than 30% of microplastics in the ocean are released when clothes are washed.

It seems necessary to use materials with a low environmental impact, even in textile products.

While these straws are a bit pricey at 100 yen for 10, they might be considered a small investment in the future.

Click here for the "Green Planet" special site.

Click here for our Green Planet introduction article on this website.