Food is only one half of a balanced lunch break. Every good meal comes with a complementary drink to wash it all down, but there is an often-overlooked problem hidden in each sip: your straw. Drinking straw material has become both a hot topic and an important decision, and while a common complaint about paper straws is that they eventually soften in your drink, their ability to break down can actually be beneficial. If you’re on the fence about how you finish your drink, here are the top three reasons why you should consider paper straws.
Paper Straws are Made from Renewable Resources
Unlike polypropylene straws, which are made from nonrenewable fossil fuels like petroleum, our paper straws are made from trees, which are biobased renewable resources. Renewable resources are critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change. 100% of our fiber is procured in accordance with third-party chain-of-custody standards, which require that we meet specific requirements.
Paper Straws Don’t Linger
Single-use polypropylene straws can take up to 200 years to break down, remaining in the environment and contributing to long-term waste challenges. Paper straws, on the other hand, are made from wood pulp (cellulose), which is biodegradable in the right landfill conditions.
Source: WWF; Statista (2024)
Paper Straws Offer Colorful Opportunities
Our paper straw materials can be converted into various colors and patterns, making them a vibrant accessory for events like birthdays, weddings, or other celebrations. When versatility is important, consider a paper straw—you can count on us to provide the best paper for your food design needs. We will provide the right finish, opacity, smoothness, and gloss level for optimal results. To top it all off, most of Domtar’s food papers are FSC certified.
100% of the harvested woodlands Domtar manages are regenerated through natural re-growth tree planting and sourced fiber is subject to stringent requirements of third-party chain-of-custody certification. The only true drawback to paper straws is that you might sip your drink a little more quickly, At Domtar, we strive to put sustainability at the heart of everything we do, and our food service papers are no exception.
To receive the latest information on our Specialty Papers, check out our specialty updates page.
*Amended 03/03/2026
