Here you should find everything you need to know about Ecosuckers, and possibly a bit more (because we like giving you all the information). If there’s something we’ve missed, it’s because we’ve never been asked it before. So please email it over, and we’ll get back to you with your answer.
Do they get soggy?
The short answer is, no. The long answer is no: we tested them in our very own hot and cold drinks, using the same straws for a whole week, and they never got soggy or changed in any way. The reason is, they’re naturally non-porous, so don’t have microscopic holes that let liquid in, creating the soggy, bendy, falling-to-bits look.
Are they gluten free?
Although you don’t eat our straws, this is still an important question to ask if you suffer from a specific wheat allergy, as any form of contact could cause a reaction. So thank you for asking. Technically speaking, gluten protein is stored in the grain seed, not the stem. Meaning, there shouldn’t be any gluten. But if you have a wheat allergy, please consult a qualified medical expert before using our straws because we can’t guarantee they don’t contain wheat proteins.
Are they better for the environment than bioplastic straws?
Good question. Yes. We find that anything with the word plastic in it, isn’t going to be that great. When bioplastic is touted as better environmentally, it generally means, ‘compared to conventional plastic’. So the bar is set pretty low. And even then, it doesn’t always win.
Bioplastic straws are seen as good because they’re compostable, unlike plastic. This isn’t true in reality, since they can only break down in industrial composting facilities when the temperature, moisture and conditions for microbes are exactly right. The problem is, most countries don’t have these facilities, so bioplastics end up in landfills where, just like plastic, they don’t biodegrade for hundreds of years, and when they do, they release potent greenhouse gas. Or they’re burnt in incinerators, again producing harmful greenhouse gas. If they find their way into the sea, they cause the same pollution as plastic, as they can’t biodegrade there either.
You see, corn starch based bioplastic might seem like it’s eco as it’s grown in the ground, but to extract the starch, sulphur dioxide is used, and to make it durable, additives and polymers are blended in. Another reason bioplastic isn’t planet-friendly is because the corn or sugarcane is cultivated using chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the salts and acids of which end up polluting rivers, lakes and seas, changing their ecosystems and harming aquatic life. Not only that, but it competes for land space with food production, because the corn could be used to feed people instead.
On the other hand, wheat stem straws are natural, not man-made, need minimal processing (just air and water) and are cultivated without chemicals as a by-product of wheat crops grown for flour. They break down quickly or compost without help, as any organic material does. So, yes, the answer is, yes.
Are they cheaper than bioplastic straws?
Not exactly. Although as natural straws go, Ecosuckers are one of the closest in price to these eco-unfriendly bioplastics, which are little cheaper, yet at a much greater cost to the planet (see answer to previous question). Why are bioplastics so cheap? The most common ones are made from the extracted starch and sugar of corn and sugarcane (sounds ok), which is then converted into polylactic acids or PLAs (not so ok). These are really cheap because they often come from the same large industrial facilities that make products like ethanol. They’re manufactured at a huge scale for packaging, plastic bottles and forks, etc. So it’s tough to beat their highly mass-produced price.
Are they better for the environment than paper straws?
Yes. Even though plastic is more unpopular than the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse right now, paper can be just as ominous for the environment. For a start, it needs more energy and resources to manufacture than plastic. Then when it comes to disposing of it, it’s a lot harder to recycle. If any food or drink residue is left on a paper straw, it can’t be recycled, which means it’s sent to landfill or incinerated, releasing greenhouse gases.
Can you put them in your home compost?
Just like you pop a banana skin into your food waste, or an apple core onto the compost heap in your back garden, so can you do the same with Ecosuckers. Because they’re 100% wheat from nature – organic matter with no additives or chemicals and will break down quickly and easily. They’ll also biodegrade pretty much anywhere outside on the ground: the street, a field, that little patch of green on a big roundabout. But this looks untidy and is called littering, which is against the law. Therefore, we don’t recommend it.
What is their diameter?
A whopping (for a straw) 5-8mm. We’re proud to say it’s the largest wheat straw on the market, and the widest of any natural, alternative straw (that has an affordable price!). The width varies a little, as nature’s never uniform.
What length are they?
Natural variations of between 20cm and 15cm. That’s long enough for a tall glass, and short enough not have to stand up to take a drink.
Where are they shipped from?
From Dongguang County, China, in containers. Always by boat and never air freighted.
Can you reuse them?
We do, as it is possible. The longest has been for a few weeks so far, but they could be reused for longer. Yet that’s for personal use, not hospitality. Which is why we label them ‘single use’. Actually, they’re in their own category of ‘friendly single-use’, because they break down simply and easily with no toxic residue, just like a banana skin.
Do your straws have chemicals or pesticides in them?
From Dongguang County, China, in containers. Always by boat and never air freighted.
Please get in touch with any questions about your order and our products or for press enquiries.
For smart, green suckers
Smart, green suckers need a smart, green sucker. It doesn’t go soggy leaving a mess in your drink, and doesn’t leave a mess of the planet. So, go get yours. Shop our natural wheat straws here.
For smart, green suckers
Smart, green suckers need a smart, green sucker. It doesn’t go soggy leaving a mess in your drink, and doesn’t leave a mess of the planet. So, go get yours. Shop our natural wheat straws here.