A South Korean government-commissioned study found paper straws had higher carcinogenic and acidification impacts than conventional plastic, raising questions about material substitution as a pollution-control measure
Paper straws, widely adopted as an alternative to conventional plastic amid growing concerns over pollution, could carry a higher environmental burden in several categories, including potential human toxicity and greenhouse gas emissions, a South Korean government-commissioned study has found, according to the South China Morning Post.
The findings raise questions about the effectiveness of switching materials as a standalone measure to tackle environmental damage. The report, titled Comprehensive Study on Single-Use Straws, was commissioned by South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. Its findings were made public by Kim Wi-sang, a lawmaker from the opposition People Power Party.
Researchers evaluated conventional plastic, paper, biodegradable plastic and bio-based polystyrene straws through a life-cycle assessment covering 16 environmental impact categories. Conventional plastic straws recorded the lowest impact in 10 of these categories, according to the study.
Paper straws were found to have 6.33 times the carcinogenic impact and 2.04 times the acidification impact of conventional plastic straws. These measurements relate to potential health and environmental effects associated with emissions across a product’s life cycle, from the extraction and processing of raw materials to its eventual disposal. They do not indicate that using a paper straw directly increases an individual’s cancer risk by the same proportion.
Biodegradable plastic straws also performed worse than conventional plastic in certain categories, recording 3.34 times the carcinogenic impact and 1.98 times the acidification impact.
Bio-based polystyrene emerged as the most environmentally damaging material among those assessed in several categories. Although produced from renewable plant-based sources, the material is not biodegradable and retains chemical characteristics similar to those of conventional polystyrene plastic.
The study attributed 16.18 times the carcinogenic impact and 5.9 times the acidification impact to bio-based polystyrene compared with conventional plastic. It ranked highest in 10 of the 16 environmental assessment categories.
The findings also draw attention to the waste-management challenges associated with disposable straws. South Korean waste statistics cited in reports indicate that 73.6 per cent of discarded straws are incinerated, while the remaining 26.4 per cent are disposed of in landfills.
Kim called for policies that prioritise curbing the use of single-use products instead of relying primarily on material substitution to address pollution.
South Korea has repeatedly revised its approach to plastic straws. The government announced restrictions in 2021 but subsequently postponed their implementation before suspending enforcement indefinitely. In 2025, it shifted to a customer-request system under which plastic and paper straws are provided when customers ask for them.
Other jurisdictions have adopted varying approaches to limiting plastic consumption. Taiwan, Hong Kong and the European Union have introduced restrictions, while Japan has required businesses to formulate plans aimed at reducing plastic use.
