Could plants be the final straw for plastic?

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Could plants be the final straw for plastic?

Could this simple drinking straw help cut the onslaught of plastic pollution in the world's oceans?

It's made entirely from plant fibre, which decomposes in landfills within months and will not harm the environment even if it does end up in the sea.

"Many species that live in the ocean and eat algae are able to eat and digest those plant fibres," said Huang Chien-Chung, founder of 100 per cent Plants. "This is why the speed of decomposition of this straw is much faster than that of common plastic straws."

According to the United Nations, eight million tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean every year.

At that rate, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050.

Wang Wei-man, a night market stall employee, said, "If plastic straws are banned the price of drinks will go up and customers will buy less - it's all about price at the night market - they want drinks to be both cheap and delicious."

100% Plants say have orders from large international restaurant chains and airlines and are now planning to make coffee cups lids as well as cutlery and plates.