Paper straws linked to six times higher cancer-related impact than plastic, bombshell study finds

Paper straws have long been promoted as a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic, but a new study suggests the opposite may be true.A South Korean government-commissioned study compared four types of straws: traditional plastic, paper, biodegradable plastic and sugarcane-based straws.Researchers examined 16 ways the straws could harm the environment and human health, including their contribution to climate change, air pollution and the release of potentially harmful chemicals.According to the researchers, paper straws had a 6.33 times higher carcinogenic impact than their counterparts.Paper straws were also found to have 2.04 times the impact on environmental acidity, meaning they could contribute more to pollution that makes soil and water more acidic, potentially harming plants, animals and ecosystems.The study, disclosed last Wednesday, has sparked outrage in South Korea, with lawmaker Kim Wi-sang saying: 'The government must acknowledge the failure of its greenwashing policy, which fixated on ineffective substitute materials, and avoid repeating it.'The findings could also raise questions about restrictions on plastic straws across the US, where several states, including California, New York and New Jersey, have introduced rules requiring many businesses to provide them only when customers specifically request one.Cities across the country have also cracked down on plastic straws, including New York City, where restaurants and other food businesses are prohibited from automatically handing them out. Paper straws have long been promoted as a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic, but a new study suggests the opposite may be truePaper straws were first introduced in 1888, but their popularity plummeted in the mid-20th century as cheaper, more durable plastic alternatives took over.However, paper straws made a major comeback around 2018, fueled by growing concerns over plastic pollution in the world's oceans, viral environmental campaigns and bans on single-use plastics in major cities.But nearly a decade after their comeback, new findings are raising questions about whether the switch from plastic to paper was actually better for the environment.The study, commissioned by South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, looked at several straw options, The Korean Herald reported.The researchers analyzed the environmental impact of each straw throughout its entire lifespan, from the production of raw materials to manufacturing and disposal.They assumed that nearly 74 percent of discarded straws would be burned, while the remaining 26 percent would end up in landfills.The results showed that traditional plastic straws had the lowest environmental impact in 10 of the 16 categories examined, including climate change, air pollution and human toxicity.Meanwhile, paper straws had the greatest environmental impact in three categories. According to the researchers, paper straws had a 6.33 times higher carcinogenic impact than their counterpartsPlant-based plastic straws, known as bio-PE, performed worst in 10, including damage to the ozone layer, increased acidity in soil and water, and smog pollution. The researchers also found that despite being promoted as recyclable, paper straws are difficult to recycle in practice.Their small size makes them difficult for recycling facilities to separate, while the coatings and adhesives used to make them can create additional problems.The Trump administration launched its own crackdown on paper straws in March 2025, releasing a White House report warning that the supposedly environmentally friendly alternatives could pose risks to human health and the environment.The report, titled National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws, argued that paper straws were more expensive, less effective and potentially more harmful than traditional plastic versions.President Donald Trump described them as a 'pulpy, soggy mess' and claimed they contained dangerous 'forever chemicals,' which have been linked to cancer and other health problems.The White House cited research that detected these chemicals, known as PFAS, in paper straws, while highlighting studies showing they could lose up to 90 percent of their strength after less than 30 minutes in liquid.The report followed Trump's February 2025 executive order directing federal agencies to stop purchasing paper straws and reverse policies favoring them over plastic alternatives.