One thing Ursinus College prides itself on is sustainability. With the Office of Sustainability, several courses rooted in Environment and Sustainability, and a recent Top Green College title awarded by the Princeton Review, Ursinus has plenty of reasons to get a green thumbs up!
In an effort to make things more environmentally friendly, Café 2020 has implemented paper straws, a move commonly seen in cafés throughout the country. This has caused some concern, however, despite being a “better” move from an environmental standpoint.
Alternatives to plastic straws can be made up of several materials, with some businesses using agave-based straws when making the switch from plastic. With the use of paper-based straws, however, the composition gets a little complicated. Since paper straws are used as single-use food contact materials (FCMs), they are made up of biodegradable polymers. Sure, sounds like a no-brainer, but what is not obvious is this: paper straws risk containing gluten.
Rye-based or wheat-based FCMs are able to transfer gluten into foods, providing sickness and/or discomfort for users with allergies, celiac disease, etc. This is known as gluten migration and poses a real concern for Ursinus students with gluten-free diets. In locations such as Café 2020, certain students are forced to find an alternative when the only straw available is one that will cause harm to them. On a campus that thrives on being accessible to all, how can a situation like this be dealt with?
The issue lies not with the straws, per se, but the options. One student expressed her frustration towards Café 2020 only having paper straws and dome lids available for a time, making her unable to use straws for fear of gluten exposure. Lids that allow for drinks to be sipped are typically provided, but if they are not, then having only one straw option makes things difficult to navigate for those with allergies. So, what can be done?
What students want is consistency. Paper straws, plastic straws, dome lids, regular lids – they all rotate in a seemingly random fashion. This makes things less accessible for those with food-related allergies, causing annoyance on behalf of students who just want an option that works for them. While the most sustainable thing might not be plastic, addressing the needs of everyone should be the way to go. Letting students pick a straw, will solve this problem while compromising sustainability and accessibility.