India, Oct. 29 -- Paper straws were widely adopted as an alternative to plastic in the name of environmental protection. However, a government-commissioned study in South Korea suggests that the switch may not be as environmentally beneficial as many believed.

The assessment, commissioned by South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, compared four types of straws: conventional plastic, paper, biodegradable plastic and bio-based polyethylene (bio-PE), which can be made from renewable sources such as sugarcane.

Researchers assessed the environmental impact of each type across 16 categories, tracking the straws from raw material production and manufacturing to their eventual disposal. Conventional plastic straws recorded th...