A simple local solution for straws

A simple local solution for straws

By Liam Taylor  October 31st, 2019

A French entrepreneur now living in South Australia has come up with an innovative solution to our growing plastic problem by coming up with an alternative drinking straw made from food waste.

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A French entrepreneur now living in South Australia has come up with an innovative solution to our growing plastic problem by coming up with an alternative drinking straw made from food waste.

Adelaide start-up Mister Rye has developed drinking straws made from the hollow stalks of rye that are left behind after harvesting their grains. These ‘rye-cyclable’ straws are reusable, completely biodegradable in home composting systems and can even be put through the dishwasher.

Plastic straws have grown into a big issue in recent years due to the negative impact they can have on wildlife if not disposed of responsibly. Estimates vary, but many believe Australians could be using billions of straws per year, a portion of which are bound to enter the natural environment.

Whilst plant-based straws made from wheat, rice and bamboo are already available on the market in Australia, all of these products are imported from overseas. This gives Mister Rye a significant advantage, as rye is already grown extensively throughout Australia. 

“We are aiming to replace plastic straws in Australia,” Marion Vigot, co-founder of Mister Rye, told ABC News

“We can make up to 300,000 straws with one hectare of land, so if we want to replace 10 million straws used in Australia, we would need a couple of hectares, but it is definitely possible.”

Mister Rye is aiming to produce one million rye straws from its first harvest, which will take place in December in South Australia’s Riverland.

 

Positive Action

  • As always, it’s best to follow the waste hierarchy and reduce our consumption of single-use items whenever possible.
  • Check out our Zero Waste Kit for more ideas on ways to reduce the waste you produce.
  • For unavoidable waste, check RecyclingNearYou to find out how to recycle materials in your local area or dispose of them responsibly.

 

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Positive Environment News has been compiled using publicly available information. Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.

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By Liam Taylor

Prior to joining Planet Ark Liam spent his time studying global environmental issues, travelling Southeast Asia on the cheap and working for a sustainable property management company in Bali, Indonesia. Joining the communications team at Planet Ark, he hopes to inspire positive environmental behaviour through effective and positive messaging.

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