South Korea is kissing goodbye to plastic straws... in its bid to go greener.<br />Most of the nation's coffee shops and cafes are ditching the plastic.... in favor of some interesting and eco-friendly alternatives.<br /> Kim Da-mi reports.<br /> <br />With this edible straw, you can enjoy your hot Americano for two to three hours or your favorite iced tea for up to ten hours.<br /><br /> If you'd prefer not to eat the straw after finshing your drink, it will decompose naturally within three months rather than 500 years like plastic ones. <br /><br />With global initiatives to eliminate and reduce plastic use such as plastic bags and cups, straws of different shapes, forms and sizes are being produced, like these edible ones.<br /> <br /> "My goal is to create even more appetizing straws packed with vitamins, red ginseng and Chitosan that can attract older people and more."<br /><br /> Coffee shops in downtown Seoul have already started to go plastic-free. <br />Drinks and desserts are served only with reusable materials like stainless straws, paper straws and glass cups. <br /><br /> These cafes also encourage customers to think and live eco-friendly by selling stainless straws and of course brushes to clean them. <br /><br />"Customers seemed a touch confused initially, but after learning about the environmental reasons for doing it, they now bring their own containers to go." <br /><br />"I don't think it makes a lot of difference to eat in wodden bowl over a plastic bowl."<br /><br />Franchise businesses are also participating in the campaign. <br /><br /> In addition to Starbucks' goal of banning plastic straws worldwide by 2020, so-called ‘Drinking Lids’ have replaced regular straws.<br />Straws made out of rice, bamboo and paper will also be introduced in luxury hotels in Seoul from early September. <br /><br /> But of course, forming new habits and efforts to maintain hygiene are necessary, and experts say doing the dishes may require even more dish soap... a side effect of the change that has its own negative impact on the environment. <br /><br />Going green can be costly, as these paper straws cost ten times more than plastic ones. But these straws can be the start of greener life and environment. <br />
