Recently, China's first PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) biodegradable straw, jointly developed by Microstructure Workshop, Mengniu Group, Tsinghua University, and CSSC Pengli, was officially launched commercially. This product aims to reduce plastic pollution, responding to the national "dual carbon" target, and has been launched first in directly operated stores nationwide by Yogurt Day, a freshly made yogurt brand under Mengniu Group, marking a key step forward for the Chinese catering industry in the field of plastic substitution.
With the increasing global environmental awareness, the white pollution problem caused by plastic straws is becoming increasingly prominent. Microstructure Workshop, as a PHA R&D and manufacturing enterprise with core intellectual property rights, possesses materials with fully biodegradable characteristics, rapidly decomposing into water and other biomass in the natural environment. The PHA straw developed and applied by Mengniu Group addresses the three fundamental tasks of green packaging: "controlling environmental pollution, protecting Earth's resources, and contributing to achieving net zero," realizing a complete closed loop of the group's "4R1D" green packaging principle. It is expected that the first batch of products will be the first to upgrade ready-to-drink stores to biodegradable plastic straws.
Behind the creation of this milky-white straw lies the Sifang team's commitment to the "return to nature" philosophy regarding plastics. PHA is produced through natural fermentation by microorganisms and, according to authoritative TÜV certification, falls within the category of bio-based materials, replacing fossil fuels and reducing carbon emissions by approximately 60% from raw materials alone.
This PHA straw has passed stringent food safety tests. At the end of its product lifecycle, the straw does not rely on specific industrial composting facilities. Certified by TÜV AUSTRIA, it can completely degrade into water and other biomass in natural environments such as soil, rivers, or oceans within 180 days, representing a degradation rate more than 10 times faster. This effectively avoids microplastic residues, reducing the burden on nature and life. Compared to paper straws, it completely solves the consumer pain point of easily softening and breaking when wet.
On February 5th, World Soil Day, this straw was officially launched by Yogurt Day and put into use in key stores such as the Beijing Digital Science Park store and the Shanghai World Expo World store, covering high-end commercial districts in Beijing and Shanghai. As consumers hold their yogurt cups, the tiny straw is fulfilling its mission: delivering deliciousness before returning to dust, to nourish new life in the next spring. The next spring.
