As more and more people are becoming aware of the harmful effects of using plastic straws, more alternatives that are eco-friendly have been introduced such as metal straws and rice straws.
However, if you are not keen on using metal straws, there is another innovative solution that can replace plastic straws in the nearer future and that is grass straws.
Made entirely out of grass, this latest eco-friendly product is not just made from any random weeds but a specific type of grass that grows in the fields around Mekong Delta in Vietnam.
It is called Lepironia articulata and makes a perfect alternative to plastic straws as it is equally sturdy.
The grass grows wild in the wetlands of Vietnam.
Unlike plastic straws, it does not need to undergo many processes and create much waste to turn it into straws.
In a Facebook video that has gone viral on social media with over 1.5 million views and 27,000 shares, Vietnamese Tran Minh Tien shows how he manufactures grass straws.
After the grass is collected, it is cleaned and washed before it is cut into 20-cm tubes.
Then, the hollow inside of the grass will then be cleaned again by using a metal rod.
Next, the grass will be taken to the second round of washing and then be packaged into bundles by using banana leaves.
Then, the grass straws are ready to shipped and used!
The grass straws come in two versions; dry and fresh. Freshly cut grass straws can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and a week in room temperature.
For the dried ones, they last much longer and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to six months.
Both versions of grass straws are intended to be used for single use only but Tranh and his team encourage those who purchase the grass straws to reuse them at home.
The grass straws are fully organic as they are not treated with chemicals and preservatives. They have quite a mild and pleasant natural fragrance.
Even better, they are biodegradable!
At the moment, the grass straws are only available in Vietnam so if you happen to visit Vietnam anytime soon, do not forget to check the grass straws out.
Credit: Mothership
