Young scientists of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology are working on refining the technology for producing biodegradable drinking straws. They have already made the first prototypes of straws from biodegradable polymers and their composites.
Researchers would like to replace at least some of the currently used plastic products with biodegradable plastics products and biocomposites based on plant fibers, which, in terms of their price and properties, would not differ significantly from their classic, much more environmentally impacting solutions.
The data available on the website of the Association of Plastic Producers shows that in Poland the demand for plastics in 2018 and 2019 amounted to over 3.5 million tons, and the amount of plastic packaging waste generated was as much as 1,047 million tons. From 1 January, the sale of straws made of plastic was banned in the European Union.
