A government-commissioned report saying that the health risk of paper straws is worse than plastic ones is creating confusion among Korea’s food and beverage businesses, according to industry officials on Sunday.
Domestic paper straw makers have received criticism following the report. However, they alleged that the report only cited a foreign study and is irrelevant to their products.
The report’s impact has spread to consumers and straw-using businesses that have been using paper straws for their advertised biodegradability and eco-friendliness.
After the report was released early last month, paper straw makers have seen their sales slow down.
Nuridaon, based in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province, hasn’t been able to sell its currently stocked 25 million paper straws worth 300 million won ($222,000).
Nuridaon, which has been certified safe by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and has even exported to Australia, said its manufacturing process had been certified for safety domestically and overseas.
Nuridaon isn’t the only Korean paper straw manufacturer with foreign credentials. Lee&B acquired one from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Seoil from TUV Austria.
Seoil Vice President Park Jae-il said that Korean paper straws have been sold to global enterprises.
“Global companies like Nestle, Danone, Coca-Cola, 한국을 Pepsi, Burger King and McDonald’s are using made-in-Korea paper straws,” Park said. “Our products have earned global trust. We urge (consumers in Korea) to trust our products as well.”
The setback on domestic paper straw producers came following the report that said chemical coating on paper straws is more environmentally hazardous than plastic straws.
The report, jointly written by consulting firm Ecofill Plus and Anyang University’s industry-academe cooperation department, said paper straws generated more carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, phosphate and dichlorobenzene than plastic straws when incinerated or buried underground.
