Paper straws worse for the environment than plastic, South Korea study finds

Paper straws, widely promoted as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic, may actually have a greater environmental impact than conventional plastic straws, according to a South Korean government-commissioned study that has renewed debate over whether switching materials truly reduces waste.

The Comprehensive Study on Single-Use Straws, commissioned by South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, was disclosed on Wednesday by opposition People Power Party lawmaker Kim Wi-sang, The Korea Herald reported.

The study found that paper straws had 6.33 times the carcinogenic impact of conventional plastic straws. That figure measures the potential cancer risk from emissions across a product’s entire life cycle – from raw material production to disposal – rather than health risks from direct use.