Off The Record

Straws Made Of Wild Grass Are Vietnam’s Newest Zero-Waste Option

Published on June 21, 2019

Plastic is doing an irreparable damage to our planet. And it’s definitely not easy to fix that damage, or to just stop buying plastic products and switch to eco ones in a day.

People can stop buying certain products to lower their plastic usage but it’s the big companies and manufacturers that need to offer us an eco-friendly and healthier option than the plastic one.

Since this plastic problem is becoming bigger and bigger by the day, people are FINALLY becoming more and more aware of that issue and, whats more important, is that they are FINALLY doing something about it.. well, at least, some of them.

We’re here to tell you the latest eco news about this weeks winner, Vietnam!

Beautiful Vietnam made straws of wild grass! How wild is that??

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I wouldn’t say it solves our plastic problem but it’s a step in the right direction!! #switchtosafer #progressnotperfection #betterbeauty #beautycounter #noplastic #biodegradable #greatidea #wildgrassstraws #saveourearth

A post shared by Kerry White (@beautycounter.kerry) on Apr 5, 2019 at 9:05pm PDT

A young Vietnamese man did his fair share for saving our planet from the plastic monster by making these biodegradable straws, which would only cost 2 cents each.

Tran Minh Tien, owner of Ong Hut Co., arrived at the innovative idea using a species of grass called Lepironia Articulata, locally known as co bang, which grows around the Mekong Delta region in southwestern Vietnam.

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Wow this is another great straw alternative! I prefer no straw, but if you need a straw or prefer a straw sometimes, it’s great to have plastic free options! 🌍💙🧜🏾‍♀️ . . Posted @withrepost • @egyecoland As the world becomes increasingly aware of the plastic crisis, more and more people are saying no to plastic straws. To combat the issue, people all over the world have come up with new, more sustainable materials to make straws from. Most recently, a young Vietnamese entrepreneur released a straw made of wild grass, which has been taking off on social media. Tran Minh Tien is the owner of Ống Hút Cỏ, a Vietnam-based company that makes two kinds of straws out of sedge grass. If the batch of straws is going to be sold fresh, a bundle of 100 straws is collected and then wrapped in banana leaves. To make both the fresh straws and the dried straws, the grass is harvested, washed, and cut into straw-sized tubes. Then, an iron rod is used to clean the inner part of the straws, followed by one last washing. If the batch is going to to be sold dried, after the final washing, the straws are left out in the sun for two to three days, and then baked in an oven. This dries out the straws, and extends their shelf life to about 6 months at room temperature. At the moment, the straws are only being sold in Vietnam, but Ống Hút Cỏ is experimenting with selling the dry straws to other countries. Both kinds of grass straws are edible (Ống Hút Cỏ says chewing them after meals can actually help clean your teeth and gums), compostable, free of chemicals and preservatives, and affordable. The fresh straws cost about 2.6 cents each, and the dried cost about 4.3 cents each, according to VnExpress International. While going straw-free is the most eco-friendly option, many people rely on straws or prefer them, for a variety of reasons. That said, it's awesome that options like these wild grass straws are now on the market, isn't it? News Source: www.greenmatters.com #EgyEcoLand #EgyEcoLand_GrassStraws #EgyEcoLand_EcoNews #EcoNews #EnvironmentNews #News #Environment #Straws #GrassStraws #WildGrassStraws #StrawsMadeOfWildGrass #EcoFriendly #Sustainable #SustainableLiving #Sust

A post shared by Mermaid Marla (@mermaid_marla) on May 29, 2019 at 7:07pm PDT

He makes both fresh and dried straws.

The grass is grown, harvested and washed. Tien and his team cut 8-inch pieces and use an iron rod to clean the hollow part. The straws are washed and rinsed again. That’s how these fresh straws are made. After that, he sells them wrapped in leaves of bananas.

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Now for the dried ones, it is a bit more difficult, but definitely not impossible!

The dried ones require more time and more effort. The grass is left under the sun for 2 to 3 days, and then it’s baked in the oven.

Fresh grass straws should be used within a couple of weeks, and they work best when stored in airtight bags in the fridge. You can boil the straws in salty water, and let them dry naturally. If you decide to do this, you should later store the straws in a dry and cool place.

Dried straws should be used within six months if kept at room temperature.

These straws are also edible, in case anyone was wondering.

Kudos to this man and to Vietnam. They are definitely being the change they wish to see in the world!