Paper straws could be doing more harm than good, study suggests

Paper straws have been marketed as a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic, but a new South Korean assessment suggests they may carry a greater pollution-related health burden.

South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment commissioned the assessment from the Korean Society for Life Cycle Assessment, according to news reports.

Researchers compared how paper, plastic and other disposable straws could affect human health and the environment, from production through disposal.