Traditional plastic or paper straws have been replaced by Loliware’s waste-free replacement. They look and feel like plastic straws, but within 18 hours of use, they begin to degrade. The “straw of the future” from Loliware differs from existing plastic straw replacements in that it resembles the strengths of the former. Because it’s made of plastic rather than paper, Loliware’s straw won’t get wet. It’s also better for the environment because it doesn’t contain any wood or paper components.

As the name implies, seaweed is a renewable resource. Straws based on seaweed are less harmful to marine life and can even be eaten by fish if they end up in the water. As a portfolio business of Closed Loop Ventures, LOLIWARE has pioneered the use of biomaterials generated from seaweed as a replacement for plastics, helping to heal the earth as a result. When composted or thrown away, it is supposed to “disappear.” A few weeks after dumping it, it will decay completely.

Seaweed’s carbon-sequestering properties and quick, renewable lifespan make it a unique species. Cellulose, naturally occurring polymers, and proteins make up the seaweed. All of them are potential avenues for growth. For example, you can make a SeaPulpTM from seaweed by extracting cellulose from the plant. With the extra bonus of not having any of the health concerns connected with PFAs, this can be molded into any shape.

The use of seaweed as a substitute for plastic is unquestionably in the cards in the future. All of our seaweed is sourced in a sustainable way. There are rigorous controls on how it is harvested in Europe. There is currently only a tiny portion gathered, and that’s all that’s used by LOLIWARE. An environmental firm called Loliware has come up with a novel solution to the growing problem of plastic straws, which they believe is better for the environment than asking people to go strawless. They believe people should be able to sip their sodas through seaweed instead.