Comparative Degradation of Eco-Friendly Straws in a Simulated Marine Environments

Abstract

This study investigated the degradation of three eco-friendly straw materials: paper, bamboo, and polylactic acid(PLA) in a simulated marine environment. The purpose of the research was to determine whether commonly used alternatives to plastic straws degrade effectively when exposed to saltwater conditions similar to those found in marine ecosystems. Three replicates of each straw type were submerged in a 3.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution and maintained at room temperature for 12 days. Initial and final mass measurements were recorded, and physical changes were observed throughout the experiment. The results showed that paper straws experienced a mass decrease of 2.62%, indicating partial degradation. In contrast, bamboo straws gained 5.00% mass and PLA straws gained 7.80% mass. The increases in bamboo and PLA mass may have been associate with water absorption and residual salt accumulation after drying. The findings suggest that paper straws degrade more readily in marine conditions, while bamboo and PLA straws exhibit greater resistance to short term degradation. These results provide insight into the environmental performance of eco-friendly straw alternatives and their potential impacts on marine ecosystem.

Biographies

Grace Li is a first-year student in the faculty of science at UBC. Her research focuses on the degradation of eco-friendly straws in marine environments. She is interested in environmental sustainability and biodegradable materials.

Haoxiang Lei is a first-year student in the faculty of science at UBC. His research interested include environmental science and sustainable materials. They are interested in studying how biodegradable products in studying how biodegradable products interact with marine environments.