Pasta with a difference - when pasta becomes the drinking straw of the future
Why will plastic drinking straws soon be history?
When it comes to drinking straws, also known as drinking straws , goes, then many people first think of its multicolored representatives made of plastic. Of course, they are very effective when it comes to enhancing the appearance of a drink, but with their main component, plastic, they also have a number of disadvantages. The production of plastic is based on largely environmentally harmful processes that produce a lot of CO2 and emit it into the atmosphere. The raw materials that make up plastic are not renewable or renewable and there is no really effective alternative that can be used as a raw material for plastic. The production of plastic straws alone leaves a very impressive ecological footprint. When using plastic drinking straws, you soon become aware of another disadvantage: many of the drinks change their taste when drinking through the plastic drinking straws. This effect also occurs with many other drinking straw variants, for example those made of metal, paper or wood. An altered flavored drink is not necessarily what one desires. They often show additional production damage or they break quickly. Their sharp edges cut into the sensitive oral mucosa, which further spoils the enjoyment of the drink. The last and almost the most important disadvantage is obvious. The plastic drinking straws are so-called disposable items. After the first and only use, they are commonly thrown in the trash. Once they are garbage, they pollute the environment and animals with their pollutants for many years. The environmental impact of single-use plastic items has now also reached the EU. For this reason, it decided in 2018 that the production of single-use plastic items would be banned from July 2021. For this reason, people are looking everywhere for alternatives to cups, plates, cutlery and also straws. We at Wisefood have been thinking about how we can actively shape our future in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way for some time before the EU. So in 2016, as part of a student project that has now become quite successful as a start-up company, the idea for an edible drinking straw variant that makes consumers and the environment equally happy.Everyone loves pasta - that's why we're now using it as a strawIf you look at a macaroni noodle, it's not difficult to see a certain resemblance between it and a conventional plastic drinking straw. So it is obvious that macaroni quickly comes to mind as an answer to the question of a sustainable straw. This is mainly due to their ingredients. A macaroni consists mainly of durum wheat semolina. It is easy to grow and regrows easily, so it is a regenerative resource. Such raw materials, which are used for our macaroni drinking straws, are grown in strictly controlled companies that meet our high quality standards. What also makes durum wheat semolina so important as a raw material for straws: it is completely biodegradable. So even if you later don't want to cook a dish with the pasta straws or nibble on them raw, they won't pollute the environment with their pollutants for years to come. Their natural components simply go back into nature, where they came from. Pasta makes you happy - especially as strawsPasta straws from Wisefood have a lot of advantages.We want to get an overview of all their quality features here:1 Macaroni drinking straws are sustainableProbably the most important property of our macaroni straws is that they are particularly sustainable, starting with the cultivation of the raw materials until use. The cultivation takes place under ecologically compatible cultivation and is regularly checked by us, as well as the production facilities of the macaroni. They work under the highest quality standards. All institutions involved in the production of our drinking straws are "IFS" certified. "IFS" stands for "International Featured Standard". This means that these production facilities and their internal processes are measured and controlled according to international standards, thus delivering a safe product that is at the same time perfectly tailored to our product requirements. The macaroni drinking straws are made exclusively in Germany in order to be able to optimally maintain the high standard of our macaroni and at the same time to keep the transport routes as short as possible. In this way, we minimize CO2 emissions even before the sale. The main component of the macaroni stalks is durum wheat semolina. This is a completely natural, plant-based product that is both renewable and fully biodegradable. For this reason, no waste is produced with the straws made from pasta dough. The natural product is completely absorbed by nature by being decomposed and processed by microorganisms. This clearly distinguishes it from the plastic drinking straws. The drinking straw variant made from pasta dough thus becomes an environmentally conscious, sustainable alternative.2. Macaroni drinking straws are edibleThe pasta straws can be used in many ways and complement any drink with their multiple uses. Once you've slurped up your drink, you can enjoy the macaroni as a crunchy final snack. Alternatively, you can of course also use them to make your favorite pasta dish. The culinary possibilities are open to everyone who chooses the pasta dough straws.3. Macaroni drinking straws are suitable for everyoneMacaroni drinking straws are available in different lengths and with different diameters. They are available in lengths of 22.5-25cm and diameters of 6-8mm, but a diameter of 10mm would also be possible. They are suitable for both hot drinks and cold drinks of any kind. This makes them a product that suits everyone, be it the cocktail bar, the café or even a hotel business. Thanks to their crispy-fresh noodle consistency, the macaroni straws are pleasant in the mouth, are not sharp-edged and neither cool down hot drinks nor derive the freshness from cool drinks. They are just as functional as plastic, metal or paper straws and look just as good in any drink. Another bonus is that the straws don't need to be laboriously cleaned. Either they serve as a small snack immediately after use or they can simply be disposed of in the organic waste.4. Macaroni drinking straws make drinks tastierThis property is not a placebo effect, but can be easily explained. While plastic, wooden or paper straws often adversely affect the palatability of the drink due to their own taste, the ingredients of the straws made of pasta dough act more as a flavor enhancer. As a result, you can not only support the environment with the straws, but you may also get to know completely new flavors of well-known drinks.5. Macaroni straws are veganWe avoid animal products in the manufacture of our products, including the macaroni straws.In this way we act for animal welfare, against factory farming and at the same time avoid additional CO2 emissions 6. Macaroni drinking straws are stableIn contrast to variants made from other raw materials, such as paper, the macaroni drinking straw is surprisingly stable when in use. In cold drinks, the straws stay crisp for up to 120 minutes before slowly softening. They also retain their stability in hot drinks for up to 60 minutes. This makes it possible to relax and enjoy any type of drink.7. Macaroni drinking straws have a long shelf lifeThe shelf life of the pasta drinking straws is at least two years if they are stored in a dry and cool place. With this property, they enable wholesalers, restaurateurs and hoteliers in particular to purchase larger quantities without having to worry about having to discard part of them because they were not used up quickly enough. The long period of time before the best-before date makes it possible to make long-term calculations and thus precisely calculate the average consumption of the macaroni drinking straws before we present tailor-made offers for the respective companies.8.Macaroni drinking straws stand for fairness