What should I do if the "plastic straw ban" is implemented for two months and consumers complain about alternatives?

Two months after the implementation of the "plastic straw ban", practitioners in the catering industry have replaced long-used non-degradable plastic straws with paper straws or PLA (polylactic acid) degradable straws

How well are consumers accepting eco-friendly straws? Is there a better alternative? "Workers Daily" reporters conducted an investigation

　　Environmentally friendly straws are complained by consumers 

Shi Lei, head of Guangdong Dongguan Hengsheng Packaging Technology Co.

Despite the curing and waterproof treatment, there are still many consumers who question the "easy foaming" of paper straws

Similar complaints about the new straws frequently appear on social platforms

Although PLA straws have no paper smell, consumers who are used to plastic straws are still a little uncomfortable

Production equipment and techniques to be updated 

Last year, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly issued a document proposing that by the end of 2020, the catering industry should ban the use of non-degradable disposable plastic straws

Data show that in 2019, the cumulative output of plastic products nationwide reached 81.

Shi Lei said that plastic straws are basically one-time use, but the degradation time is hundreds of years, so recycling is difficult, and plastic particles may enter the human body through natural circulation

After the ban, the hurriedly listed alternatives did not receive a positive response from the market

Shi Lei said that the average production cost of plastic straws is 0.

The production and sales of paper straws across the country continue to grow

"Beginning in August last year, the company has received a surge in orders for paper straws

The reporter noticed that many brand milk tea chains have indicated that they will use PLA straws instead of paper straws

Some consumers are worried that "the wool comes out of the sheep", and the price of milk tea will increase with the increase in the cost of straws

　　Promote green supply of businesses with environmentally friendly consumption 

　　Yang Rendang, a professor at the State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering at South China University of Technology, believes that in the face of consumer complaints, the first consideration should not be to return to the era of plastic straws, but to explore products that better meet consumer expectations

　　According to market feedback, last year, Shi Lei cooperated with South China University of Technology and Guangdong Youcai New Material Technology Research Co.
, Ltd.
to step up research and development to improve the waterproof, oil-proof, bactericidal and antibacterial effects of the paper straw base paper, and upgrade to the direction of non-adhesive paper straws
.

　　Many market practices have also proved that banning non-degradable plastic straws is not the only way to replace straws with environmental protection
.
On June 30 last year, McDonald's China announced that from now on, nearly 1,000 restaurants in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen will be the first to stop using plastic straws, and add a drinking spout to the design of the cup lid.
Can be drunk directly
.

　　Yang Rendang said that reducing the use of disposable products and plastic products is an inevitable trend.
In this process, manufacturers need to continue to innovate and form standardized and unified industry standards
.
For consumers, it is necessary to gradually get used to the experience of environmentally friendly straws, or reduce the frequency of use of disposable products, and promote green supply of businesses with environmentally friendly consumption
.