With plastic straw bans looming in New South Wales and Victoria, the arrival of a brand new, fully biodegradable option into Australia is perfect timing.
Penka straws are produced from upcycled Mexican agave fibre cellulose and are the world’s first-ever biodegradable straws made from agave fibres (and do not come from food sources).
Jose Cuervo has been innovating with agave fibres for years, partnering with many different leading innovators. Jose Cuervo reached out to BioSolutions/Penka as they had developed the technology to use agave fibres in bio-based plastic alternative items. With this partnership, BioSolutions/Penka can scale their production to begin to make the consumer drinking experience more sustainable. The creation of a biodegradable, agave-based straw is just the start.
This initiative also allows BioSolutions/Penka to create a circular economy within the tequila industry. By incorporating agave fibres, which is a by-product of the tequila industry, into an everyday product for consuming tequila and other beverages, they are re-purposing waste and replacing up to one-third of regular plastics in its composition.
NSW will join the ACT, Queensland, WA and SA with bans on plastic straws from November 1, with Victoria following in 2023 and NT in 2025.
The straws will be exclusively available in Australia through the Kaddy Marketplace and Kaddy Co-Founder, Rich Coombes, said he was particularly excited about bringing these products to Australia.
“We’ve been working with the Penka team to bring these innovative products to customers around Australia, and we’re really proud to be supporting a greener planet in the process,” Rich said.
“The Penka straws are a world first and an incredible innovation in beverage technology using upcycled waste as opposed to plants and other raw materials.”
As Penka Agent Edwin Reese explains, the unique nature of the Penka straws doesn’t stop with the production, as the neutral fibres give “no strange tastes, you can simply enjoy the flavours of your drink (and feel good about it too)”.
Initially, the Penka selection will be confined to the straws, but with stirrers, cutlery and even biodegradable toothbrushes in the range, you can expect to see even more of these sustainable products available for the ultimate sustainable consumer choice.
Penka biodegradable agave straws are available now for pre-sale on Kaddy Marketplace, with the first shipments from August 30.