Hate paper straws? Asia’s new alternatives are another eco trap

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Cafes and coffee chains are swapping soggy paper for costly bioplastics, but scientists warn the ecological fallout is far from solved

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Ushar Danielein Kuala Lumpur

For Singaporean flight attendant Chloe Tan Zi Ling, 35, the problem with paper straws is their impracticality.

“It softens before we can finish the drink, so we have to gulp it down without a straw,” she said, adding that reusable metal alternatives left an unpleasant taste in her mouth.

Her frustration reflects a wider debate over Asia’s shift away from plastic straws, with a recently released South Korean study finding that conventional plastic straws performed better than paper and other substitutes across 10 of 16 environmental impact categories – challenging the assumption that paper is necessarily the greener choice.

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