Manufacturing paper products requires a huge amount of energy. Producing paper used more than 25 times the amount of water consumed in manufacturing even plastic and produces seven times more solid waste.
Manufacturing paper products produce 3.5 times more greenhouse gases than producing plastic packaging. Harvesting trees also means that there are fewer trees to absorb greenhouse gases. Additionally, the fertilizers and other chemicals used in tree farming and paper manufacturing contribute to acid rain and eutrophication of waterways at higher rates.
Areas where paper scores particularly badly include water consumption, atmospheric acidification (which can have effects on human health, sensitive ecosystems, forest decline and acidification of lakes) and eutrophication of water bodies (which can lead to the growth of algae and depletion of oxygen).
POLLUTION
Considering the production of paper removes trees from absorbing carbon dioxide from our planet, the manufacturing process of paper contributes to 80% more greenhouse gases and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic. Paper not only adds waste to our world, but it also eliminates our greatest resource for reducing pollution and making our air breathable.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Both paper and plastic require petroleum to produce. However, the production of paper consumes four times as much energy to manufacture than plastic. That’s 2% of the world’s overall carbon footprints; not to mention the energy consumed during the transportation of heavy paper pallets compared to the lighter weight of bioplastics.
WATER CONSUMPTION
The water footprint of both paper and plastic is significant. It takes at least twice as much water to produce a plastic water bottle as the amount of water contained in the bottle itself. Paper isn’t much better, requiring 2-13 liters of water to create just one piece of A4 paper.
PURA VIDA BIOPLASTIC STRAWS – THE BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO PAPER STRAWS
Paper Straws are not Recyclable or Degradable- Many people are thinking paper straws are recycled or composted. You cannot recycle paper straws because most recycling facilities in the USA do not allow food-contaminated materials. Because paper straws soak up what you are drinking most will end up in the trash & now take years to decompose.
Paper straws can be harmful to you!
Some paper straws have been found to contain toxins and forever chemicals in their water-resistant coating. These can leach into your drink at a variety of temperatures, making it high risk and linked to many health hazards. There is even a threat of choking hazard to young children when paper becomes soggy and there are pieces left in your drink.
Taste & Mouth Feel & Overall Enjoyment of Paper- No one likes a wet soggy straw and some glues and chemicals used leave a horrible taste and residue in your drink. Many times, you need 2-3 paper straws before you can even finish one drink.
Do you want a better solution than traditional plastic and paper straws? Pura Vida Bioplastics single-use & reusable bio-based straws start breaking down in as little as 30 days and can be done with a simple at-home composter. Paper straws are only single use, you cannot use paper over and over and one of the key components of sustainability is re-use.
Unlike other solutions, our product requires no chemicals, heat, or other special accommodations to break down, it does so naturally in the environment.