Teijin Frontier recently announced that the company has developed a straw that can be biodegraded in marine environments, helping to reduce plastic waste in the ocean. This new type of straw uses NEQAS-OCEAN, a biodegradable cellulose acetate resin produced by NEQAS, as its raw material. The straw has been certified by the Japan Bio Plastics Association as "Marine Environment Biodegradable and Bio-based Plastics."
The straws produced by Nippon Fine Technology Co., Ltd. have high transparency and are biodegradable in marine environments, thanks to the company's professional polymer processing technology. The diameter of the straws can be designed to be larger than traditional cellulose acetate straws. The diameter of the straws can reach 11mm, suitable for beverages such as jelly drinks and pearl milk tea containing potato starch. The new straws will be launched in Japan in April 2025.
Cellulose acetate resin is a polymer that is chemically modified from cellulose derived from plant fibers. It is ultimately biodegraded into natural substances such as water and carbon dioxide under the action of water and microorganisms.
Dainippon Printing Co., Ltd. has been committed to its environmental strategy "THINK ECO", developing a range of environmentally friendly materials and products. This includes BIOFRONT, a bio-degradable and practical polymer resin made from polylactic acid (PLA). The launch of new, marine-environmentally friendly, biodegradable straws further advances this strategy. Looking ahead, Dainippon Printing Co., Ltd. will continue to expand the range of biodegradable plastic raw materials and products, providing solutions to reduce environmental impact.