The History of the Straw:

A lot of inventions by humans have been inspired by nature. Insects use the proboscis to suck nectar from flowers, a similar function to a drinking straw.

Around 2600 BC the Sumerians, an ancient civilisation living in modern-day Southern Iraq, used reed straws to drink beer from clay jars. Later, during the industrial revolution of the 1800s, the use of rye grass straws made straws a very popular eating utensil to transfer liquid from a container to the user’s mouth.

In 1888, Marvin Stone developed and patented the paper straw. By 1890 his factory was manufacturing more straws than cigarette holders. In 1906 the “Stone Straw Corporation” invented the first winding machine to speed up production and end the hand-winding process. Apparently Stone was manufacturing up to 2 million straws per day during his peak period.

During the 1930s an inventor, Joseph Friedman, invented the bendy straw and created the Flex-Straw Company to produce his product. These straws were, for example, very popular with hospitals as they allowed patients to drink while in bed.

Plastic straws were both more durable and cheaper to produce than paper straws. Consequently, during the 1960s, mass production of plastic straws increased. Plastic became a popular material to manufacture a wide range of goods. According to Plastics Europe (one of the world’s largest plastic producers), in 1959 an estimated 1.5 million tons of plastic was produced and this increased to 322 million tons in 2015.

The media exposure of plastic pollution and its negative effects on the environment paved the way for the comeback of the paper straw. Today, many businesses are turning to sustainable alternatives such as eco-friendly paper straws to reduce environmental impact.

The Modern Day Paper Straw:

Over the past few years a lot of research and development has taken place to improve the design and material quality of the paper straw. A very important factor is the durability of the straw when in liquid — ensuring it does not become soggy while still maintaining the compostable element needed to break down in landfills.

The method, paper, and glue used today to manufacture paper straws are very different to the paper straws of the mid-20th century. The increased sales of sustainable  paper straws are making inroads into the global drinking straw market where plastic straws still hold the major market share. Currently, it is estimated that Americans use 500 million drinking straws per day.

In order to curb the effects of plastic pollution, several countries, cities, and corporations have introduced new policies regarding single-use plastic items. In 2018, the EU announced the banning of plastic straws by 2021. Therefore, pressure is not only felt from institutions, but also from environmentally conscious consumers who expect businesses to seek sustainable alternatives.

The paper straw offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic straw. Paper straws are made from naturally degradable material and decompose in a short period of time. A used paper straw thrown away will start to degrade within days and will not cause harm to the environment when breaking down. When composted, paper straws can even help fertilize the soil.

Conclusion:

Multi-cup Solutions, as a well-established food and beverage packaging supplier in the South African market, made the responsible decision to add a new range of environmentally friendly products to their extensive product list. Multi-cup Solutions, as a forerunner in the packaging market, recognizes the paper straw as an important “green” solution for beverage industry requirements.

Due to growing demand, Multi-cup Solutions has added white and black wrapped paper straws in different sizes to their stock range. You can view the full range of food service paper straws here.

For more information on our full range of recyclable and environmentally friendly food and beverage packaging, contact us on 011 058 4200.