China News Service, Hangzhou, April 1 (Reporter Huang Hui) Under the plastic ban order, from the withdrawal of plastic straws, to the debut of paper straws, now polylactic acid straws (PLA) are more and more common, and small straws are gathered. The "straw rivers and lakes" formed have quietly changed.

Who will be the biggest winner in the future?

How will it affect consumers' sense of use?

From big to big, foreign trade orders become the backbone

　　Many consumers still remember the feeling of using paper straws at first.

　　"I haven't finished drinking the cola, I always feel that the paper straw is about to rot, and I still don't get used to it." Consumer Mr. Ye said.

Ms. Li, a consumer who often drinks milk tea, said: "Drinking milk tea with a paper straw will affect the taste of the milk tea itself."

　　The effect of market feedback on orders has also caused paper straw manufacturers to experience a "roller coaster" experience.

　　Thanks to the release of the ban on plastics, a paper product Co., Ltd. in Zhejiang, which specializes in the production of paper straws, ushered in a prosperous period of orders for paper straws.

Zhou Xiaoling, general manager of the company, told reporters that at the busiest time, 24 machines in the factory were at full capacity, and two shifts were running at full capacity to make paper straws orders, producing 3 million to 5 million straws per day.

　　Today's production situation is even more desolate.

Zhou Xiaoling said that at present, the factory generally only operates 5-10 machines according to the order situation, and the daily production capacity of straws ranges from 800,000 to 1.5 million.

"The rise of polylactic acid straws has a great impact on us." She admitted that 70% of the current orders are foreign trade orders, and foreign customers agree with the quality and environmental protection of paper straws.

　　It is reported that the polylactic acid straw is made of starch extracted from corn, wheat, cassava and other plants as raw materials, which can be fully biodegraded.

In terms of appearance, hardness and taste, polylactic acid straws and plastic straws are very similar.

　　Having been deeply involved in the straw market segment for more than 20 years, Zhejiang Yiwu Shuangtong Daily Necessities Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Shuangtong"), as the "invisible champion" of the straw industry, has also deeply felt the changes in the market.

　　Li Erqiao, the general manager of the company, introduced that Shuangtong has transformed and deployed the environmental protection product market since 2008, but due to the high cost of degradable straws, its performance has been tepid.

The ban on plastics has ushered in an explosive growth in orders for paper straws and polylactic acid straws.

"These two types of straws have achieved a 500%-600% increase from the previous order volume."

　　Li Erqiao told reporters that this "explosive growth" lasted only about three months, and it showed a situation of "insufficient stamina".

"This also caused a batch of polylactic acid straws in our inventory to be scrapped after the expiration date, with a loss of 400,000 to 500,000 yuan." He said that this is just a "small episode" on the road of development, and does not affect the company's adherence to the environmental protection product market. general direction.

　　At the moment, walking into Shuangtong's production workshop, hundreds of machines are basically running at full capacity, producing plastic straws, paper straws and polylactic acid straws in an orderly manner. A total of about 20 tons of various straws can be produced a day.

Among them, export orders accounted for "half of the country".

Li Erqiao said that at present, there are few domestic orders for paper straws, and the main force is still export.

A milk tea shop in Hangzhou has replaced polylactic acid straws and spoons.

Photo by Huang Hui

Who will be the final winner after the industry has been reshuffled?

　　When visiting offline in Hangzhou, the reporter found that many chain milk tea shops and restaurants have replaced polylactic acid straws, and the spoons provided by some milk tea shops are also made of polylactic acid.

Most of the packaging bags are printed with relevant words, such as "PLA degradable and environmentally friendly straws, PLA materials that take into account environmental protection and experience, are derived from plant resources, and are biodegradable."

　　In some chain restaurants, the reporter found that paper straws and polylactic acid straws are available at the same time: paper straws are used to drink cola, and polylactic acid straws are used to drink milk tea.

In offline supermarkets, polylactic acid straws are hardly seen, and only various types of plastic straws and paper straws are on sale.

　　Looking ahead, who will be the biggest winner in the shuffled "straw rivers and lakes"?

What actions will different straw manufacturers take?

　　In Li Erqiao's view, depending on consumers' sense of use, the development of the entire straw industry is currently in a state of great volatility.

Regarding the future development trend of the industry, he believes that the three types of straws have their own advantages and disadvantages, and there is room for their existence. In the future, there will be a state of symbiosis and co-prosperity, and there will not be a situation in which which type of straw occupies the absolute market and becomes the biggest winner.

　　He explained that in the field of chain restaurants and milk tea, polylactic acid straws can well satisfy consumers' sense of experience, but because the shelf life is only one year, it is quite difficult to sell in places with long circulation chains such as supermarkets.

Paper straws have a 2-year shelf life. On the one hand, they are highly accepted in foreign countries because of environmental protection, and on the other hand, they are also favored by domestic supermarkets; plastic straws have great price advantages and are suitable for household scenarios. one part.

　　"The country is not only advocating degradable, but also recyclable, and recyclable products are more environmentally friendly. We are also producing stainless steel straws, glass straws and other products. If we can achieve good development in the future, it will also be a great boost to environmental protection. Excellent choice." Li Erqiao said.

　　Zhou Xiaoling told reporters that under the impact, the company is starting to further improve its internal strength, improve the quality of paper straws, and develop the foreign trade market.

"At the same time, we also decided to test the production of polylactic acid straws." She said that the company will add two new polylactic acid straw production machines to see market feedback.

　　For the existing 24 paper straw production machines, Zhou Xiaoling said that they will all be reserved.

In her opinion, paper straws are very safe and environmentally friendly, and they can also provide brand logo design services for companies, which is still very promising in the future.

　　Zhou Xiaoling also called on consumers to see the environmental protection of paper straws, so as to further recognize and accept paper straws.

She also expects that paper straws will usher in a new "spring" of development as soon as possible.

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