Grigory Pavlov
for EcoToutism Expert 
A campaign to ban single-use plasticware is gaining momentum in Europe. France was the driver and the first to hit on plastic straws in 2021.
It is estimated that up to 1 billion plastic straws are used worldwide every year. At the same time, straws more often than other plastic waste are used on beaches and end up in the sea causing serious harm to flora and fauna, especially considering the fact that the straws may contain toxic substances, and their complete degradation takes from one hundred to several hundred years.
In 2021-2022, plasticware and plastic packaging for vegetables and fruits were also partly banned in France. Since 2023, plastic cups have disappeared from offices, and food service chains, including McDonald’s, started using glassware and reusable plastic wraps for French fries. And there is a hole for a straw in a cap of a paper cup to be able to use a straw if you have it!
By 2040, France plans to completely eliminate the single-use plasticware and plastic packaging. Starting this year, Spain took a decision to partly ban food-grade plastics, and other states intend to do the same. Moreover, a number of countries do not wait for the adoption of a relevant law and stopped using straws and other plastic accessories in cafes and bars. In the USA, they stopped giving you a straw with a glass of beverage unless you ask for it.
Who is to blame and what to do?
It is often heard that the main reason for uncontrolled plastic waste pollution is due to people irresponsibly throwing away straws and other plastic waste, and also due to the lack of an effective system for recycling food-grade plastic. At the same time, the demand for food-grade plastic production increases by almost 8% every year.
In the West, not only scientists are busy with this problem, but also representatives of corporations, for whom the search for an environmentally friendly solution in the event of abandoning plastic straws can also become a source of promising and long-term investments.
What could be used as alternatives to plastic straws, without which many people cannot imagine enjoying their favorite beverages? First of all, these are biodegradable disposable straws made from natural, often renewable, resources.
It is believed that a promising option is, strictly speaking, a straw made from a ‘straw’ itself, that is, from a wheat culm; or an edible apple straw made from wheat and apples without adding sugar. It tastes good and is suitable for both cold and hot beverages, and has a shelf life of up to 2 years.
Other options for single-use straws are a flavored edible straw for a certain beverage, a rice straw made from rice flour and tapioca, which can be made either in a standard size or adapted for smoothies and bubble tea, and, finally, an ice straw that is especially pleasant in heat.
Less convenient options include ‘pasta’ straws made from durum wheat, but they begin to soften in about 20 minutes when get wet; and pressed paper straws that are a 100 percent environmentally friendly replacement for plastic but can give the beverage a taste of paper when a straw is in a glass for a long time.
Another alternative is multiple-use straws made of durable natural materials - reed, bamboo, as well as stainless steel, silicone or durable glass. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. They are definitely suitable for home use and designer restaurants, but how can they be adapted for catering, unless people come there with their own straws?
There are already companies in France producing single-use biodegradable straws, edible straws and reusable straws. And Ecotable has even made a directory of suppliers offering eco-friendly technologies to restaurateurs across France, including eco-friendly disposable and reusable straws. The only question is when and how these straws can be mass-produced to ensure a worthy alternative to plastic straws, and what other countries will join in searching the solution in the near future.
It must be said that it will not be possible to completely abandon plastic and plastic-containing tubes in any case, for example, tubes used for medical purposes. However, this is a ‘drop in the ocean’ compared to the number of straws that continue to be produced in the world for public catering.
What is the situation in Russia?
Russia also has plans to ban food-grade plastic. In 2021, the list included 28 products to be banned, including colored plastic, cotton swabs, single-use plasticware and plastic straws. Such proposals were prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources; the plans were that they could come into force as early as 2023-2024.
Unfortunately, the amendments to the legislation prohibiting the use of non-recyclable and hard-to-recover materials were shelved due to sanctions and difficult economic conditions. However, this does not mean that the subject is completely closed. Moreover, new initiatives are emerging. In particular, a possible ban on the sale of plasticware in the Krasnodar Territory, Crimea and the Lake Baikal area was recently discussed.
