Save our planet: use leaf straw

As the beverage industry, such as bubble tea, gains popularity among young people in the bustling streets, the use of non-biodegradable plastic straws presents a pressing global environmental crisis. In fact, our country, Malaysia, is currently grappling with the problem of mismanaged plastic waste, particularly in plastic straws. The government has launched extensive campaigns to reduce plastic usage, leading to the introduction of various biodegradable straw options in the market. This research focuses on using leaves as an alternative straw. Five common leaves in Malaysia, namely oil palm leaf, banana leaf, pandan leaf, coconut leaf, and corn leaf, were selected for potential leaf straw production. Preliminary studies showed that only banana leaf, pandan leaf, and corn leaf had minimal effects on water, particularly in terms of color. These three leaf straws then underwent water quality analysis, including pH value, water conductivity, and total dissolved solids (TDS). Throughout the one-hour analysis, the pH value of the water dropped slightly from 6.85 to around 6.50, water conductivity varied between 155 and 95 μS/cm, while TDS varied from 105 to 65 ppm. Overall, the results indicated that all three types of leaf straws had no significant effect on water quality. In conclusion, the research demonstrated the potential of using banana leaf, corn leaf, and pandan leaf as suitable alternatives to plastic straws in Malaysia. These biodegradable leaf straws have a minimal impact on water quality, making them environmentally-friendly choices for everyday use.