An edible bioplastics startup company, called Loliware, launched edible seaweed straws to replace plastic straws. Unlike paper straws that get mushy over time, Loliware’s product looks and feels like plastic, but best of all, if it ends up in the ocean, it quickly dissolves.
Plastic Bans
Cities in the US, like San Francisco and Seattle, have already adopted legislation that bans restaurants and bars from serving plastic straws to customers. Now, if a customer wants a plastic straw, they’ll have to ask or use an alternative.
Loliware’s CEO and co-founder, Chelsea Briganti, sees plastic straw bans as a “gateway” to raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution.
Loliware Straws
Currently, about 360 billion plastic straws are used worldwide. However, there’s an enormous demand for alternatives, as companies and countries are increasingly phasing out some forms of single-use plastics.
In upstate New York, Loliware is producing 2 million straws per week in a pilot plant. Early adopters of the seaweed straws include hotel chains like Marriott and beverage company events like Pernod Ricard. By the start of 2020, the company will begin offering packs of straws for consumer purchase. Additionally, Briganti claims the straws have a “neutral” taste that’s not salty like traditional seaweed.
Once Loliware starts using new manufacturing facilities in Europe, it will have the capacity to produce 30 billion straws by the end of 2020. The few facilities will also enable them to develop various designs for juice boxes, cocktail stirrers, Boba tea, and frozen desserts.
Furthermore, in 2020, the company plans to get creative and experimental with their straws by adding flavors, vitamins, or nutritional benefits.
Plastic Pollution
The US alone creates enough plastic straw waste (500 million a day) that it could wrap around the earth two-and-a-half times. In 2017, Science Advances reported that as little as 9% of the world’s plastic waste is recycled, while around 12% gets burned. The remaining 79% builds up in landfills, waters, or somewhere in the environment. Sadly, all of the plastic products that make their way into nature take around 400 years to decompose, endangering wildlife such as birds, bees, and marine animals.
Loliware Company
Briganti grew up surfing in Hawaii, which is why she has an excellent appreciation for marine life and recognizes that plastic alternatives are a way to preserve it. She launched Loliware with co-founder Leigh Ann Tucker in 2015.
Loliware’s first product was an edible cup. However, some consumers complained that it was too waxy or tough. The company is now developing a new formula that will launch in 2020. The seaweed straws have a similar concept to the cup, but Briganti clarifies that customers should think of it as a guilt-free plastic alternative rather than something to devour. “It can be eaten, but this is not a food per se, or a snack. Don’t expect to eat your whole straw as if it’s a candy,” she said.
Plastic Straw Alternatives
Loliware isn’t the only company to develop a biodegradable alternative to plastic straws. Some popular substitutes include paper straws or straws made from corn-based PLA. However, these substitutes have their flaws. Paper becomes mushy, and PLA doesn’t quickly decompose in the ocean. Another issue with PLA is it can only be processed in industrial composting facilities–which most cities don’t have.
Loliware calls its products “hyper-compostable” to distinguish them from these other alternatives. If a Loliware straw happens to end up on the ground or in the ocean, lab data suggests that it will break down within weeks. Additionally, the company believes customers won’t even know they’re consuming something different because the straws aren’t labeled. So, it seems Loliware’s seaweed straws are the perfect alternative to plastic straws.
