Reusable Straws

Team Udayavani, Jul 27, 2018, 10:12 AM IST

Looking for Reusable Straws? You’ll Love This Unique Innovation from the Andamans!

Lal Ji Singh, Scientist and head of the office at BSI’s Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre in Port Blair, told that in its natural from, the bamboo species could not be used as a straw.

Well, at least not the large ones we have in mind, but one of the bamboo species- Schizostachyum andamanicum could be used as an eco-friendly replacement of plastic straws.

The species in native to the Andaman Island and is currently being atudied by Indian scientists at the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) to explore their potential use as a green alternative as a reusable bamboo straws.

Discovered on the island nearly two decades ago, this species is characterized by a thin, large, hollow stem with long intenodes.

Scientists took the sections of the stem between the nodes and cut it into small pieces, to the length of a drinking straw. This can either be achieved manually or with the use of machinery.

Once the stems are cut, the sheath of the bamboo is removed with the solid nodes cut off.

The bamboo straw is reusable. Even when it gets deteriorated, it is easily decomposed in the soil, hence very eco-friendly. With an estimated cost of 50 paise, the bamboo straws outrun their plastic counterparts regarding longevity as well as enviornomental impact.