Eco-Friendly Straws Market Report 2031 by Segments, Geography, Dynamics, Recent Developments, and Strategic Insights

The eco-friendly straws market size is projected to reach US$ 20.81 billion by 2031 from US$ 10.46 billion in 2024. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 10.3% during 2025–2031. The growing influence of social media is expected to create a new trend in the eco-friendly straws market during the forecast period.

Eco-Friendly Straws Market Analysis

Eco-friendly straws are gaining popularity owing to increased awareness of plastic waste. Innovation in materials and manufacturing technologies enhances their durability, usability, and aesthetic appeal. Companies are investing in biodegradable coatings, water-resistant paper layers, and plant-based polymers. These innovations improve the performance of these straws without compromising environmental goals. Consumers are increasingly associating eco-conscious behavior with brand loyalty. This association propels businesses to leverage eco-friendly straw usage as part of broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies.

Eco-Friendly Straws Market Overview

The global eco-friendly straws market's growth is driven by increasing environmental concerns and a shift away from single-use plastics. The awareness of plastic pollution, particularly in oceans and waterways, is growing. It is accelerating consumer demand for sustainable alternatives in foodservice and personal use. Governments and regulatory bodies across regions are implementing bans and restrictions on plastic straws. These restrictions propel the adoption of biodegradable and compostable options such as paper, bamboo, metal, glass, and polylactic acid (PLA) straws. Restaurants, cafes, and large hospitality chains are responding to regulatory pressure and consumer preferences by integrating eco-friendly straws into their sustainability initiatives.

Eco-Friendly Straws Market: Strategic Insights

Eco-Friendly Straws Market Drivers and Opportunities

Regulatory Bans on Single-Use Plastics

According to Ukhi India Pvt. Ltd., approximately 400 million tons of plastic waste are generated each year globally. Single-use plastics represent a significant portion of this waste. An estimated 8 million tons of plastic waste, including plastic straws, enter the ocean annually. As awareness of plastic pollution increases, governments have introduced regulations to curb the use of single-use plastics. In January 2022, France implemented a ban on single-use plastic. It aims to eliminate its use across all forms by 2040. In July 2021, Germany adopted a staged approach by banning single-use plastics and introducing a single-use plastic tax. This tax came into effect in January 2022.

In December 2022, Canada issued a federal ban on six single-use plastic items, including plastic straws. This ban intends to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. In 2021, China announced a reduction of single-use plastics in the food service industry by 30% by the end of 2025. In July 2022, India issued a nationwide ban on single-use plastic items, including plastic straws. Such regulatory bans on single-use plastics by countries worldwide encourage the use of eco-friendly straws.

Eco-friendly straws are made from bioplastics, bamboo, bagasse, and other sustainable materials. These straws break down into organic matter without leaving harmful microplastics. They typically decompose within 2 to 6 weeks in terrestrial environments, such as soil or compost. Bagasse straws are fully biodegradable and compostable. They typically decompose within 3 to 6 months under natural conditions. Additionally, bamboo straws biodegrade within a year under natural environmental conditions. This feature positions them as a highly sustainable alternative to conventional single-use plastic straws.

Soaring Adoption of Eco-friendly Straws by Quick Service Restaurants

Eco-friendly straws influence consumer purchasing behavior in the food service industry. Consumers' decision to use sustainable packaging, such as straws, can serve as a key differentiator in brand perception. Plastic waste from quick-service restaurants represents a pressing environmental challenge. It significantly contributes to ocean pollution and landfills. The accumulation of disposable straws, cups, and other packaging products adversely impacts the marine ecosystem globally.

The quick-service restaurants are adopting reusable and washable packaging alternatives as a part of their sustainable initiatives. In 2021, Burger King announced the launch of eight sustainable packaging items, including straws apart from spoons, knives, drink lids, etc. Starbucks eliminated all single-use plastic straws in 2020 and offers lids designed for use without or with non-plastic straws. In 2018, A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. eliminated the use of plastic straws from its restaurants, replacing them with biodegradable paper straws. In 2020, Taco Bell announced the shift toward paper straws from plastic straws at locations subject to plastic ban laws. 

Quick-service restaurants can streamline waste management processes, trim procurement expenses, and bolster operational efficacy and financial stability in the long run. They can achieve these benefits by reducing their reliance on single-use plastics. Fast food chains that implement and embrace sustainability initiatives retain and attract environmentally conscious consumers. Thus, the rising adoption of eco-friendly straws from quick-service restaurants is expected to generate lucrative opportunities in the market in the future.

Eco-Friendly Straws Market Report Segmentation Analysis

Key segments that contributed to the derivation of the eco-friendly straws market analysis are product type, material, and end user.

• By product type, the eco-friendly straws market is segmented into straight straws, flexible straws, and others. The straight straws segment held the largest share of the eco-friendly straws market in 2024.
• Per material, the eco-friendly straws market is divided into paper, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), bamboo, bagasse, silicone, and others. The paper segment held the largest share of the eco-friendly straws market in 2024.
• Based on the end user, the market is bifurcated into food service and retail. The food service segment is sub-segmented into quick service restaurants, cafes and bars, hotels and fine dining, catering service, and others. The retails segment is classified into supermarkets and hypermarkets, convenience stores, online retail, and others. The food service segment held the largest share of the eco-friendly straws market in 2024.

Eco-Friendly Straws Market Share Analysis by Geography

The geographic scope of the eco-friendly straws market report is divided into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and South & Central America. The eco-friendly straws market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.

The Asia Pacific eco-friendly straws market is segmented into Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the Rest of Asia Pacific. Rapid infrastructure growth, including new airports and regional expressways, has allowed food chains to set up their outlets. This establishment is creating a demand for eco-friendly straws. The growing online food ordering due to the convenience offered by these platforms is propelling the demand for paper straws, bamboo straws, silicone straws, and polylactic acid straws. Eco-friendly straws are used in the Asia Pacific due to rising environmental challenges, government regulations, consumer shifts, and corporate social responsibility. Reusable and biodegradable straws are preferred as a lifestyle choice among youngsters and health-conscious consumers. McDonald's, Starbucks Coffee Company, and KFC have standardized their sustainability goals across the region and replaced plastic straws in local outlets. Australia, China, India, and Japan have the highest penetration of beverages, including hot, cold, and frozen. The increasing influence of Western culture on people in the region is impacting the demand for beverages in the region. As globalization continues, culinary exchanges, particularly those from North America and Europe, are gaining popularity among consumers in the Asia Pacific.

Major players are expanding their reach by spreading their products to restaurants and QSRs in the Asia Pacific. In 2021, The Belgian Waffle Co. expanded its reach by adding new outlets and entering the FMCG category through e-commerce platforms and stores. The brand aims to be present across categories, including QSRs, e-commerce platforms, modern trade, and A-list stores. A surge in demand for shakes, bubble tea, and other beverages among all age groups drives market growth in this region.

The regional trends and factors influencing the Eco-Friendly Straws Market throughout the forecast period have been thoroughly explained by the analysts at The Insight Partners. This section also discusses Eco-Friendly Straws Market segments and geography across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America.

Eco-Friendly Straws Market Report Scope

Eco-Friendly Straws Market Players Density: Understanding Its Impact on Business Dynamics

The Eco-Friendly Straws Market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing end-user demand due to factors such as evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and greater awareness of the product's benefits. As demand rises, businesses are expanding their offerings, innovating to meet consumer needs, and capitalizing on emerging trends, which further fuels market growth.

Eco-Friendly Straws Market News and Recent Developments

The eco-friendly straws market is evaluated by gathering qualitative and quantitative data post primary and secondary research. This data includes corporate publications, association data, and databases. Key developments in the eco-friendly straws market are as follows:

• Australian B-Corp and global compostable packaging enterprise, BioPak, expanded into the Hong Kong market. This expansion is an effort to help the industry switch to sustainable alternatives across the region. (Source: Biopak, Press Release, April 2024)
• Transcend Packaging announced the rollout of a new hot cup across Europe, designed and manufactured at Transcend's factory in Ystrad Mynach, Wales. This innovative cup replaces the plastic lining with a mineral-based coating. This replacement makes it the first large-scale application of this technology for coffee cups. (Source: Transcend Packaging, Press Release, May 2025)

Eco-Friendly Straws Market Report Coverage and Deliverables

The "Eco-Friendly Straws Market Size and Forecast (2021–2031)" report provides a detailed analysis of the market covering below areas:

• Eco-friendly straws market size and forecast at global, regional, and country levels for all the key market segments covered under the scope
• Eco-friendly straws market trends, as well as market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and key opportunities
• Detailed Porter's Five Forces and SWOT analysis
• Eco-friendly straws market analysis covering key market trends, global and regional framework, major players, regulations, and recent market developments
• Industry landscape and competition analysis covering market concentration, heat map analysis, prominent players, and recent developments for the eco-friendly straws market
• Detailed company profiles