Since 3 July 2021, the European single-use plastics directive has banned placing disposable plastic straws on the market. The question is therefore no longer whether to move to paper, but which one — because a badly chosen paper straw goes soggy before the glass is finished, and that is what the customer remembers, more than the drink.
Diameter decides, not the brand
A paper straw goes soggy when the liquid has time to soak into it. Two factors are at play: how long it stays in the glass, and the diameter, which governs how fast it draws.
| Drink | Diameter | Reference | Cost per piece |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft drink, juice, cocktail — drunk quickly | Ø 6 mm, 210 mm long | GLD-515 | €0.020 |
| Soft drink on a terrace — drunk slowly | Ø 8 mm, 150 mm | GLD-535 | €0.018 |
| Bubble tea, milkshake, smoothie | Ø 12 mm, 230 mm | GLD-502 | €0.052 |
| Long service, events, reusable | Ø 8 mm reusable | FRI-C65 | €0.015 |
The practical rule: the thicker the drink, the wider the diameter — a milkshake through a 6 mm straw is guaranteed frustration. And the more slowly the glass is drunk, the thicker the paper has to be, or better, the sooner you move to reusable.
What moving to paper actually costs
This is the most common objection to paper: « it costs more ». The figures say otherwise, provided you order in professional pack sizes.
| Reference | Pack size | Box price | Cost per piece |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLD-535 — paper Ø 8 mm | 3000 pieces | €55.60 | €0.018 |
| GLD-515 — paper Ø 6 mm | 6000 pieces | €119.76 | €0.020 |
| GLD-502 — bubble tea Ø 12 mm | 3000 pieces | €157.60 | €0.052 |
| FRI-C65 — reusable | 5000 pieces | €75.70 | €0.015 |
A standard paper straw therefore costs less than two cents. On a soft drink sold at €3, that is 0.6% of the selling price — well below the cup, the lid or the ice. The extra cost of moving to paper is real, but it is counted in tenths of a cent, not in euros.
What about the other alternatives to plastic ?
Paper is not the only option allowed since 2021. The others exist, but none suits every use in a business.
PLA and bioplastics. Visually close to plastic, but they need an industrial composting stream to be recovered — which does not exist everywhere. Thrown out with ordinary waste, they are no better than plastic. Stainless steel and glass. Excellent on lifespan, but they require a washing cycle and carry a real loss rate: a steel straw that goes into the bin with the napkin costs a hundred paper ones. Bamboo and plant fibres. Good looks, but the unit price confines them to businesses that make them a menu argument, not a volume consumable. In practice, paper remains the default for standard service, and reusable takes over as soon as a deposit system is already running. The other options are a positioning choice, not a cost calculation.When reusable becomes the right answer At an event, a festival, or on a terrace where drinks are consumed slowly, the reusable straw solves both problems at once: it does not go soggy, and it fits the deposit logic already required for cups at events in Wallonia.That is exactly the case covered in our articles on
cups for festivals
and on
- Christmas market stalls
- , where the same rule applies. For the broader materials question, see
- biodegradable or compostable
.
🚫 Banned since July 2021
The European single-use plastics directive took disposable plastic straws off the market. The question is no longer whether, but which.
📏 Diameter is everything
6 mm for a soft drink finished quickly, 8 mm on a terrace, 12 mm for bubble tea. A milkshake through a 6 mm straw is guaranteed frustration.
💶 Less than two cents
0.6% of the price of a €3 soft drink. The extra cost of paper is real but counted in tenths of a cent, not in euros.
Black paper straw Ø 8 mm (GLD-535)
The versatile size: wide enough for a soft drink on a terrace, stiff enough to last the glass. Black does not show staining the way white does.
- Box of 3000 pieces — €55.60
- €0.018 per straw
- Ø 6 mm × 210 mm format available for cocktails
- Compliant with the single-use plastic ban
Bubble tea paper straw Ø 12 mm (GLD-502)
The wide bore, for anything containing pieces or body: bubble tea, milkshake, smoothie. A standard straw is unusable there.
- Box of 3000 pieces — €157.60
- €0.052 per straw
- 230 mm long, for tall glasses
- Essential as soon as there are pearls or pieces
Frequently asked questions
Are plastic straws banned ?
Yes. The European single-use plastics directive has banned placing disposable plastic straws on the market since 3 July 2021. The permitted alternatives are paper, compliant alternative materials, and reusable.
Why does a paper straw go soggy ?
Because the liquid gradually soaks into it. Two factors speed this up: a glass drunk slowly, and too narrow a bore, which means drawing for longer. For terrace service, use a wider diameter or move to reusable.
What diameter of straw for bubble tea ?
12 mm. Below that the pearls do not pass and the customer gives up. It is the one case where diameter is not a comfort but a condition of use.
How much does a paper straw cost ?
Less than two cents in professional pack sizes: €0.019 for a Ø 8 mm straw, €0.020 for a Ø 6 mm. On a soft drink sold at €3, that is 0.6% of the selling price, far below the cup or the lid.
Should you move to reusable straws ?
For standard service, no: paper is enough and costs less. At an event or festival in Wallonia it is different — the deposit logic is already required for cups, and the reusable straw fits in with no extra effort.
Choose your straws
Paper in three diameters, reusable for events, delivered to BE, LU, FR, NL and DE.
See the paper strawsSee the reusable straws