ZERO TO WASTE LANDFILL

Annoyed with paper straws? Could pasta straws be the solution?

Roughly 8.5 billion plastic straws are used in the U.K. each year, but as a new ban takes effect next April, that number will shrink to zero. One startup is hoping to corner the market for alternative straws using an unlikely material: pasta.

Stroodles straws are said to provide greater durability, are flavourless, vegan, 100% biodegradable and are edible raw or cooked after use.

A core principle for Stroodles is their ‘drink-easy’ ethos, meaning drinkers shouldn’t have to change behaviour or compromise on drinking experience to do good for the environment.

Company founder, Maxim Gelmann, said: “While we’re a very logical and effortless solution to the plastic problem, Stroodles is not just a straw company.

“Our driving goal is to become a vehicle for change and we hope that Stroodles can act as an enabler, subtly inspiring people to question how they consume everyday items. We hope these incremental changes will lead to a ripple effect and create a greater shift in behaviour, one Stroodle at a time.”

The concept of conscious consumerism also extends to Stroodles’ business model and operation. Pasta straws that don’t meet the standard get donated to food banks and a share of Stroodles’ sales are donated to charities who help fight plastic waste.