Today’s Solutions: May 17, 2026

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the plastic crisis, more and more people are saying no to plastic straws. After all, you don’t really need a straw to enjoy a drink. Still, some people are insistent on drinking out of a straw, so innovators around the world are scrambling to find eco-friendly materials to make straws from. The latest comes from a young Vietnamese man who has shown how a certain type of wild grass can be converted into drinking straws. These straws do not contain any chemicals, preservatives and, most importantly, are biodegradable. To make the straws, the grass is first harvested, washed and cut into straw-sized tubes. The tubes are then cleaned on the inside using a metal rod, followed by a last round of washing.

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