In a bid to combat plastic pollution, scientists and manufacturers are exploring alternative materials for commonly used items like plastic straws. As highlighted in a recent study featured on ScienceDaily titled “Some plastic straws degrade quicker than others,” researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) conducted experiments to assess the degradation rates of various types of plastic and paper drinking straws in coastal ocean environments.
Led by scientists Collin Ward, Bryan James, Chris Reddy, and Yanchen Sun, the study compared different types of straws, including those made from polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene (PP), cellulose diacetate (CDA), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), as well as paper straws. Partnering with bioplastic manufacturing company Eastman, the researchers aimed to understand how different materials behave in marine environments.
Through controlled experiments using seawater from Martha’s Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts, the researchers observed the degradation of various straws over a period of 16 weeks. Surprisingly, CDA, PHA, and paper straws showed significant degradation, with projections suggesting environmental lifetimes of 10-20 months in coastal oceans. In contrast, PLA and PP straws exhibited minimal signs of degradation.
This research sheds light on the potential of bioplastic materials like CDA and PHA to provide environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastic straws. Recognizing the importance of such studies in informing sustainable waste management practices, the organization supports ongoing research into the environmental impacts of different materials.
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