Aardvark Paper Drinking Straws

How Do You Make a Good Paper Straw? | Eater

"An Indiana-based paper-straw manufacturer founded in 2007 with a packaging-company parent, known for product innovations (jumbo lengths, striped cocktail versions, logo-printed straws and the patented Eco-Flex bendy straw). The company emphasizes proprietary materials and processes — a special, food-grade paper and adhesive with no coatings sourced from sustainably planted trees — and a closed-factory policy to protect quality. It argues that producing consistently durable paper straws requires months of operator training and careful equipment/chain management, differentiating its output from low-cost imports from China that have given paper straws a bad reputation. As demand has surged after increased media attention and retail/municipal straw bans, the company has been rapidly expanding capacity, hiring and training operators, expediting shipments for high-profile events and phasing rollouts to large customers and environmentally sensitive areas rather than fulfilling everyone at once. Its R&D and third-party testing show its straws perform across many beverages if used properly, and the manufacturer advocates for straws-on-demand and reusable alternatives to reduce overall plastic-straw consumption." - Daniel Geneen