Paper straws are better for the environment than plastic straws.

Is it true that paper straws are better for the environment than plastic straws?

Partly. Several life-cycle assessments partially address the comparison: a Greek LCA reports paper straws have up to 2.5 times higher climate impacts than plastic, and a Brazilian LCA finds plastic straws perform favourably in 10 of 11 categories versus paper, while one paper frames paper straws as a biodegradable replacement for non-degradable plastic. None settles the full environmental comparison across all impact categories.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 1 source for, 3 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Zhang, J. & Pal, L. (2024). Paper drinking straws coated with cellulose acetate and polyhydroxyalkanoates via an entropy-driven approach and natural colorants as alternatives for plastic drinking straws. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.19.3.4043-4046

Moy, C., Tan, L., Shoparwe, N. F., Shariff, A. M., & Tan, J. (2021). Comparative Study of a Life Cycle Assessment for Bio-Plastic Straws and Paper Straws: Malaysia’s Perspective. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9061007

P, E. & C, B. (2025). Environmental and Economic Impacts of Substituting Single-Use Plastic Straws: A Life-Cycle Assessment for Greece.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091235

Environmental and Economic Impacts of Substituting Single-Use Plastic Straws: A Life-Cycle Assessment for Greece - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091235

Comparative life cycle assessment of drinking straws in Brazil. (2020). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123070