In the EU, we now use sustainable straws! With growing demand, there's also an increasing supply. Recently, Straw by Straw received an email asking: what is the difference between your straw straws and other straws when considering the production process and environmental impact? Each type of straw has its own production process and characteristics. In this article, we'll dive deeper into the production processes of sustainable straws and explain how different types of straws are made!
We will cover:
paper straws, bamboo or wood fiber straws, straw straws, and wheat straws, as well as reusable glass and metal straws.
Curious about the story behind your favorite straw? Read on.
How are straws produced?
Straws come in all sizes, types, and materials. As mentioned, each type of straw has its own unique production process. Read below to find out how each type of straw is made:
Straw straws:
These are naturally our favo'rites' :-) and we can explain them well. Straw straws and reed straws are made from natural materials, namely straw and reed. They are literally plant stems used for drinking. How does it work? The reed is cut, and straw is collected during the harvest. Both are cleaned, the hard outer shell is removed, and the hollow tubes remain. The tubes are cut to the desired length and sometimes flattened on one side, depending on the design.
Metal straws:
Metal straws are made from materials like stainless steel, titanium, or aluminum. First, the metal sheets are cut to the desired shape and then rolled into cylindrical forms. The straws are then cut to the desired length and polished.
Glass straws:
Glass straws are made from heat-resistant glass, such as borosilicate glass. The glass is heated and blown into the desired shape using a blowpipe. The straw is then cooled and polished.
Paper straws:
Paper straws are made from paper coated with a layer of plastic to make them water-resistant. The paper is rolled and glued together, then cut to the desired length.
Wood fiber straws:
Wood fiber straws are made from wood pulp, which is pressed and formed into tubes. These tubes are then dried and cut to the desired length.
What techniques are used to make straws?
Various techniques are used to make straws. For reed straws, it's a matter of cutting and sterilizing. For metal straws, a bending press is often used. The different types of straws can also be polished. We've researched it per straw type:
Straw straws:
The production of straw straws involves traditional farming and harvesting techniques. The reed and straw are hand-harvested and cut, then cleaned and processed into straws. Often, artisanal techniques are still used, such as hand-cutting the straws to the desired lengths: 15 cm, 20 cm, 23 cm, and 25 cm. Nowadays, we thankfully have machines for this! A challenge during mechanical production is to avoid the stem nodes; otherwise, you can't drink through them.
Metal straws:
Metal straws are made using industrial techniques, such as laser cutting and bending. The straws are cut from metal sheets, rolled, and then welded to achieve the desired shape.
Glass straws:
Glass straws are made using glassblowing techniques. How cool is that?! The glass is heated and blown and shaped into straws. They are then cooled and polished for the desired finish.
Paper straws:
Paper straws are made using techniques such as coating paper with a plastic layer, making it water-resistant. The paper is then rolled and glued together to create straws.
Wood fiber straws:
Wood fiber straws are made by pressing and forming wood pulp into tubes. This can be done with an extruder. Extrusion machines are more often used for straws that contain bioplastic. The tubes are dried and then cut to the desired length to create straws.
What materials are needed to make straws?
To make straws, you need a few materials. What materials are in a paper straw? What about PLA or wood fiber straws?
Straw straws: To make straw straws, you need straw and reed. These are natural materials that are harvested and cut.
Metal straws: To make metal straws, you need metal, such as stainless steel or titanium.
Glass straws:To make glass straws, you need glass, which is heated and blown into the desired shape.
Paper straws: To make paper straws, you need paper coated with a water-resistant plastic layer.
Wood fiber straws:To make wood fiber straws, you need wood pulp, which is pressed and formed into tubes.
