Battle of the Straws: Compostable vs. Paper

In 2022, the United States used approximately 212 million single-use straws each day.  Plastic straws were once the go-to option - cheap, durable, and everywhere. However, regions across the US and the world are increasingly banning plastic straws due to concerns over pollution in oceans and landfills. In response to heightened public awareness and as part of organizational sustainability goals, many retail and foodservice establishments as well as consumers began looking for alternatives to plastic straws.

Paper straws quickly replaced plastic, but their reputation for becoming soggy and flimsy left much to be desired. Compostable straws then gained popularity, promising a safer, more sustainable solution. But are they truly better for the planet, or just a greener-sounding alternative? Though both were introduced as sustainable substitutes for plastic, a deeper dive reveals significant differences in performance, environmental friendliness, and their impact on public health.

Paper Straws: Definition and Background

Paper straws generally consist of food-grade recycled paper and raw materials, as well as adhesives and inks. While paper straws may be a better option for environmentally conscious businesses and consumers than plastic because of their ability to biodegrade, they do lack durability. These straws tend to become soggy after prolonged contact with beverages, and this subpar performance delivers a poor experience for the user.

Also, paper straws have been found to contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are commonly called “forever chemicals.” Scientists from the University of Antwerp tested 39 brands of straws available on the Belgian market. Their study, published in Food Additives & Contaminants in 2023, found PFAS in 90% of the paper straws tested versus 75% of the plastic straws.  Regardless of straw material, it’s important to look for straws manufactured without any intentionally added PFAS. 

Compostable Straws: Definition and Background

Alternatively, compostable straws are designed to mimic plastic straws’ durability and flexibility while offering the benefit of biodegradability (under the right composting conditions). Made of plant-based polymers, these straws utilize materials originating from natural sources like sugarcane and corn.

Compared to paper straws, compostable ones retain their structural integrity for longer once placed in a beverage. A 2019 study published in BioResources evaluated the physical properties of straws and found that paper varieties lose up to 90% of their compressive strength less than a half hour after they come into contact with liquid.  

Users and businesses have the option to select compostable straws that are certified by independent third parties (e.g., TÜV AUSTRIA or BPI) to break down without releasing toxins. It’s important to note that, unless PLA-based straws are expressly certified to do so, they won’t typically break down in residential composting bins. The two primary types of compostable straws, home compostable and industrial compostable, require specific environments to biodegrade.

Home Compostable

Safe to compost at home, these products will break down naturally in a backyard compost pile or bin without requiring special conditions. For example, their degradation doesn’t depend on the high heat and aeration typical at commercial composting sites. They’ll break down in ambient temperatures of between 20 and 30°C, or 68 and 86°F, within a one-year period.

Industrial Compostable

Meant for municipal or commercial composting facilities only, industrial compostable products won’t fully degrade in home compost bins and could negatively impact compost soil. These products need high heat and controlled conditions to break down. The typical temperature range for industrial composting is between 55 and 60°C,  or 131 and 140°F. Such products should disintegrate in approximately three months and completely biodegrade within six.

Certifications to Look For

When selecting compostable products for a home or business, certified compostable varieties are a wise choice. Specifically, look for the following recognized certifications:

• TÜV OK compost HOME. This certification denotes that a product is home compostable without requiring users to have any specialized equipment. It’s offered by TÜV Austria, a company providing global, independent certification and testing services.
   
• TÜV OK compost INDUSTRIAL. Another of TÜV Austria’s certifications, this one signifies that a product is suitable for handling by commercial/industrial composting facilities. As discussed, such items require a more controlled environment and higher temperatures to successfully biodegrade.
   
• BPI Certified Compostable. The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is a North American-based organization that provides third-party verifications and certifications. Its assessments are based on the criteria outlined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). For goods that meet BPI standards on commercial facility compostability, this certification confirms compliance with ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards.

Using certified straws will help ensure they’re manufactured by brands that are 1) meeting domestic and international standards for safety and compostability, and 2) being transparent about their materials and product disposal instructions.

Compostable Straws from LifeMade^®

Choosing the right plastic alternative isn’t just about personal preference; it’s also about the collective ecological footprint and health/safety concerns. Eco-friendly alternatives to plastic are evolving, and compostable straws are leading the way. While paper straws helped kickstart the shift toward greener options, compostable straws (when certified and properly disposed of) offer better durability and a safer, more enjoyable experience. They're designed not just to reduce waste, but to work within composting systems that turn waste into something valuable: nutrient-rich soil.

The future and success of sustainable products also depend on how they’re designed, labeled, and integrated into systems that support proper disposal and consumer education. Compostable straws are part of that future, offering both performance and purpose.

At LifeMade, we prioritize sustainability in our line of home compostable^* straws, cutlery, and containers. Our products have been lab proven and certified to degrade within six months in garden compost bins,^† and our jumbo and giant straws are certified as both home compostable^* and commercially compostable.^‡

Ideal for cold beverages, our straws are made without any intentionally added bisphenol A (BPA) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It’s our goal to provide our retail and foodservice customers with innovative product solutions that deliver the performance users expect while reducing landfill waste and positively impacting the environment.

To learn more about the LifeMade^® Home Compostable line of straws and other tabletop products, contact our team today.


This article was prepared by LifeMade and reflects our perspective as a manufacturer in the industry.
 

[1]Technomic. (2023). 2022 Disposable Market Assessment.

[1]Boisacq, P., De Keuster, M., Prinsen, E., Jeong, Y., Bervoets, L., Eens, M., Covaci, A., Willems, T., and Groffen, T. (2023). “Assessment of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in commercially available drinking straws using targeted and suspect screening approaches.” Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 40(9), 1230–1241. 

[3]Gutierrez, J. N., Royals, A. W., Jameel, H., Venditti, R. A., and Pal, L. (2019). "Evaluation of paper straws versus plastic straws: Development of a methodology for testing and understanding challenges for paper straws." BioRes, 14(4), 8345-8363.

[4]Jacobus, K. “Home Compostable vs. Industrial Compostable: What’s the Difference?” Good Start Packaging. https://www.goodstartpackaging.com/home-compostable-vs-industrial-compostable-whats-the-difference/. Accessed September 10, 2025.

[5]TÜV AUSTRIA. “Solution: OK compost HOME.” https://en.tuv.at/ok-compost-home-en/. Accessed September 10, 2025.

[6]European Bioplastics. (2016, March 2). “What are the required circumstances for a compostable product to compost?” https://www.european-bioplastics.org/faq-items/what-are-the-required-circumstances-for-a-compostable-product-to-compost/.

^*TÜV OK compost HOME certified.

^†Home composting disintegration test conducted at OWS (Ghent, Belgium) according to NF-T51-800 (2015), AS 5810 (2010), and the OK compost HOME certification scheme of TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium.

^‡BPI Compostable certified.