Words by Smiley Team
An edible drinking straw made by bacteria might not sound too appealing. However, scientists believe this could become a much more eco-friendly option than plastic or paper ones.
The sustainable straws are made from bacterial cellulose, a material similar to paper that microscopic bacteria produce from eating glucose. The result is a translucent film that is washed of bacteria before being dried into a hard substance.
Chemists at the University of Science and Technology of China have discovered that the material is both stronger than paper and better for the environment than plastic. It can be dyed with different colours and if you fancy taking a bite while you sip then all the better.
“The widespread use of disposable plastic straws cause serious environmental problems and poses potential threats to human health, while paper straws, their most-used alternatives, are not so satisfactory,” explains the chemists’ report.
Although plastic straws make less than 1% of plastic pollution, the material could be used to replace a huge variety of other objects made from plastic, including hard plastic containers, PVC films, soft packaging and more.
Bacterial cellulose adds to a growing list of plastic alternatives including ones made from shellfish, seaweed and other plants.
Plastic pollution is an increasingly pressing challenge for governments everywhere. Tom Gammage of the global campaign group, The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) said: “If this tidal wave of pollution continues unchecked, the anticipated plastics in the seas by 2040 could exceed the collective weight of all fish in the ocean."
