Documents Awareness - Knowledge
logo
OTHER NEWS

Vietnamese make next-generation straws, friendly to environment

07 May 2019 | 01:44:00 PM

The straws are not made of plastic but environmentally friendly materials such as plants, vegetables and bulbs which can be eaten or used to produce snacks and pasta.

Many kinds of next-generation straw products have been invented by Vietnamese who are aware of the danger of disposable plastic straws.

Vietnamese make next-generation straws, friendly to environment

Most plastic products are made of crude oil and are not biodegradable. Marine organisms eat plastic waste in the ocean because it is mistaken for food, resulting in injury or death.

Tran Minh Tien, a young Vietnamese man has found a way to make straws from co bang tree (Lepironia articulate), which is common in the Mekong Delta.

The straws created by Tien don’t consist of chemicals or preservatives, and more importantly, are biodegradable.

Tien collected hollow roots, cleaned them and cut them into 20 centimeter sections. The tubes’ insides are cleaned with a metal rod.

After being washed once more, the straws are bundled and wrapped with banana leaves. There are two types of straws: fresh and dried.

Most plastic products are made of crude oil and are not biodegradable. Marine organisms eat plastic waste in the ocean because it is mistaken for food, resulting in injury or death.


The former can be preserved for two weeks in refrigerators and one week at room temperature. The latter, which is put under the sun for 2-3 days and then dried in an oven, can be preserved for six months at room temperature.

The straws with natural fragrance are now available only in Vietnam. However, people around the world may have an opportunity to use them in the future when they are put under mass production for export.

Meanwhile, Truong The Tien from Thanh Hoa province, has successfully created edible nutritious straws.

Tien said the straws from grass, paper and bamboo still have disadvantages: they are not the same size, do not easily dissolve in water and have doubtful hygienic level.

Tien, after hundreds of experimental failures, said it is difficult to maintain the hardness of straws. They must not be fragile when used in different kinds of drinks, in cold and hot water, and carbonated and soft drinks.

His straws, called Vistraw, are made of 100 percent farm produce, from rice, potato, tapioca and banana starch. The input materials must be examined to be sure that they do not contain heavy metals, plant protection residues and growth stimulus.

Vistraw is not as solid as plastic products. It will soften after about 30 minutes of use with water, but will still keep the initial structure and only dissolve when immersed for 6-7 hours. Each straw can only be used once, and expires 9-12 months after the manufacturing date.

 

The straws can be used one time in restaurants and shops, and many times at home. One dried straw is priced at 4.3 cents and one fresh straw 2.6 cents.

(VietnamNet)

Views: 2025

Other news

HCM City youths join volunteer activities in Laos

(15/06/2025 10:02:AM )

Nha Trang Bay turtle egg-laying area proposed

(27/10/2022 07:46:AM )

Wild elephant appears near Nghe An tourist spot

(27/08/2022 08:07:AM )

Dak Lak Province authorities look for ways to protect the region's elephant number

(11/08/2022 08:18:AM )

Ninh Binh national park receives more rare animals

(04/06/2022 08:13:AM )

World Meteorological Day 2022 stresses role of early warning, early action

(24/03/2022 09:11:AM )

Climate change set as Vietnam-US strategic cooperation area

(02/03/2022 07:26:AM )

“Art for the environment” event launched in Hoi An

(22/02/2022 08:47:AM )

Railway through Central of Vietnam listed among six amazing Asia train journeys

(19/01/2022 07:55:AM )

VIDEO

Environmental Sustainability - we have choices

See more

ENVIRONMENT BRAND

UPCOMING EVENTS
The project that won the First Prize in the...

(VACNE, 17/6/2025) - The topic: “Artificial Wood Production from Straw” by the group of contestants Straw Wood, from Tra Vinh University, has just won the championship of the GVB Prize Startup Competition 2025 in London (United Kingdom) on June 15, 2025.

See more
The first Green Cypress to be recognized...

(VACNE) – These are 2 green cypress trees more than 300 years old with chemical name Calocedrus macrolepis Kurz solemnly held by Ba Vi National Park Management Board to announce the decision of Vietnam Heritage Tree on the morning of February 27, 2024.

See more
Some pictures of the ceremony to recognize...

(VACNE) – N(VACNE) – Authorities, mass organizations and local communities solemnly received the Certificate of Recognition of Vietnamese Heritage Trees for two majestic Sanh trees (nearly 30 meters high, more than 200 years old) in Trieu Phu communal house, in zone 7, Hung Son town, Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province on April 22, 2023 on the occasion of Hung King's death anniversary.

See more
Media contributes to the success of the international...

(VACNE) - On March 21, 2022, the Organizing Committee of the International workshop "The Effects of Environmental Pollution on Biodiversity and Human Health" had a meeting, chaired by Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Sinh - VACNE President

See more
ADB finances climate resilience infrastructure...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $60 million financing package to improve the climate resilience of transport and water supply infrastructure in Vietnam’s south-central coastal provinces of Binh Dinh and Quang Nam, especially in remote upland districts with large ethnic minority communities.

See more
PHOTO GALLERY