The Nation's First Eco-Friendly Paper Straw with 'Pack Attachment' Released

Eco-friendly Paper Specialist 'Moorim' Collaborates with World's No.1 Straw Market Leader 'Seoil' for Development
Achieves Triple Biodegradable Certification for 'Cups, Straws, and Shopping Bags'...

Straws attached to pack beverages commonly found in marts or convenience stores can now be made from 'eco-friendly paper.' Murim, a leading domestic eco-friendly paper specialist company, has partnered with Seoil, the world's number one company in the straw market, to develop 'attachable (U-shaped and telescope-shaped) paper straws.' These are eco-friendly straws certified for recyclability and biodegradability.
[Photo by Murim Paper]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Murim, a leading domestic pulp and paper company, has developed paperboard for paper straws that are 'bendable and stretchable.' This eco-friendly product surpasses the easily torn physical properties of paper and has obtained both recycling and biodegradability certifications.

Earlier this year, Murim first developed an eco-friendly paperboard for paper straws called 'NeoForeSTRAW.' It features superior durability with no deformation over long periods, improved mouthfeel for users, and has passed safety tests by the US FDA and European BfR.

Recently, with the movement toward plastic reduction, the use of such paper straws has been noticeably increasing in daily life. However, most of these are straight paper straws mainly used in cafes, while pleated straws attached to beverage containers like juice or milk sold in supermarkets and convenience stores (paper packs, cups, etc.) are still mostly plastic.

Pleated straws are designed with folds to allow users to drink beverages more comfortably, but since the straw must not tear or get damaged when bent and straightened, it has been difficult to replace them with paper. However, Murim recently developed paperboard optimized for bendable 'pleated paper straws,' overcoming these paper limitations.

The new paperboard has enhanced durability compared to existing paper straw materials and improved processability suitable for pleated straw manufacturing. This paperboard can also be applied to telescopic paper straws, which appear short but can be extended in length.

With the global eco-friendly movement, especially in Europe and Canada, laws banning plastic straws are planned to be enforced from 2021, and demand for paper straws is expected to increase significantly.

Seoil, the world's number one straw company, is producing 5 billion U-shaped and telescopic paper straws annually for domestic and export markets that can be attached to paper packs and cups. Next year, they aim to produce over 10 billion paper straws annually and export to more than 50 countries worldwide.

In line with this environmental trend, Seoil has jointly developed 'attached paper straws' with Murim, recognized as a leading eco-friendly paper company, and obtained both recycling and biodegradability certifications. Murim produces paperboard optimized for attached U-shaped and telescopic paper straws, while Seoil processes them for full-scale commercialization.

The attached paper straws passed rigorous eco-friendly tests by European certification bodies 'PTS' and 'TUV AUSTRIA,' obtaining recycling and biodegradability certifications. Among domestic paper manufacturers producing paper straw materials, Murim is the only company to have acquired both certifications.

A Murim Paper representative said, "We are researching and developing not only straws but also packaging materials that wrap the straws made from biodegradable paper instead of plastic," adding, "We are reviewing various applications of eco-friendly product groups in everyday life."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.