Aussie creates sustainable wheat straw

A young Sydney entrepreneur has created a new sustainable straw that is taking the hospitality industry by storm.

Three months ago, Teresa Aylott launched Stroh, a business selling 100% natural drinking straws made from wheat stalks, a byproduct of the wheat grain harvesting process.

Wheat straws were actually the original drinking straw of the 1800s. Farmers would grow the wheat, harvest the grain, then use the leftover stem to sip their hard-earned beer.

“Like many people, I’m concerned about the harmful effects of plastics," Aylott explained. "I take part in regular beach cleans and the sheer amount of waste shocking, it’s heart wrenching to to think of marine life and birds choking on our waste.

"My STROH straws offer an environmentally friendly and functional alternative."

Aylott hopes her STROH wheat drinking straws will replace plastic in homes, bars, pubs and restaurants across Australia.

Since launching, Aylott has already sold 250,000 straws, which have been embraced by major hospitality groups including Lucas, Merivale and Solotel. as well as over 20 independent cafes and restaurants.

Orders have been coming in from Perth, Queensland, New York and Malaysia.

Strohs are also 100% biodegradable, gluten-free, vegan friendly and don't go soggy in drinks. 

"These are truly the most sustainable straw in the market as they are a waste product of the harvesting process, and because they are natural they are 100% home compostable," Aylott explained. "We are on a mission to eradicate single use plastic straws by introducing sustainable and functional alternatives."

Plastic straws are very rarely recycled. When they eventually break down, they leach toxic chemicals into the environment and become tiny particles called microplastics.

“Microplastics in the oceans and waterways are killing our marine life and end up in our food too,” Aylott said. “With plastic straws, a few minutes of convenience will cause damage for hundreds of years”

Each year, millions of plastic straws are used and discarded worldwide. According to the Ocean Conservancy’s 2018 International Coastal Cleanup report, straws are the seventh most common item collected from beaches and waterways.