DAY 4: Paper straw is becoming mushy. No noticeable change on the rest of the straws. The first few weeks will be like this - pretty uneventful. Yet, we will post daily! Left to right: OMAO straw Starbucks Sustainable straw (unknown material) Plastic straw Paper straw

Did you know that NYC banned single-use plastic straws in 2021? Restaurant and other food and beverage providers must have a compostable alternative. They must also, however, have single-use plastic straws in case someone asks for one.

You may have seen this image circulating before. 📸 ⁠ We're resharing it as it commemorates the 1976 Olympics and is an important reminder that 48 years later, plastic still pollutes. Choose plastic-free reuse & refill, and help us push for systems change. #PlasticPollutes

DAY 11: All straws remain visually unchanged. Paper straw (on the right) is completely soggy and close to breaking. Remember, this is a home experiment to show OMAO straws' biodegradability. And compare it with other straws. OMAO is on the left side.

DAY 17: All four straws still there. Paper straw is a soggy mess and close to breaking apart. Plastic straw is obviously unchanged. Green straw ("Starbucks sustainable") is unchanged, same as OMAO. Remember, OMAO straws biodegrade in 3 months or less. Let's keep going!

DAY 22 I changed the container, but the experiment is still going! The paper straw started growing something yellowish. It's shedding slowly #micropaper Plastic straw is hard to see, but still unchanged. OMAO (left side) is starting to feel different. #straws #PHA #OMAO

DAY 25: whatever's growing on the paper straw, is getting bigger. The other 3 straws present little to no change. Remember, this is the challenge to prove that the OMAO straw biodegrades within 90 days.

DAY 26: OMAO straw is starting to break down! Green straw the same. Plastic straw the same. Paper straw soggy and moldy. What will happen in the next few days?

DAY 29: OMAO straw is flattening. Not much has changed with the other straws. Remember, OMAO straw is at the left hand side and we are proving that it biodegrades in 90 days.

DAY 32: it's hard to see in the pic, but there are some small cracks forming in OMAO straw. We are one third of the way into our challenge. Will the OMAO straw biodegrade in 90 days or less? - just sitting in water. - no special treatment. Let's go!

After only a little over a month, I can't help but wonder what else grows on a paper straw. Before it is thrown away.

A good alternative to plastic straws should have: • Perfect functionality • Competitive production costs • Easy and real biodegradable qualities Otherwise, why would customers buy and use the product?

The one trait that most biodegradable products lack: User Experience. It is hard to convince people to change their behavior. Trying to do it while presenting a sloppy alternative is near impossible. People change when changing improves their lives. No convincing required.

DAY 38: Can you see it?! Can you see the crack along the OMAO straw? What's going on with the other straws? Paper straw - being invaded by mold/other growth. Middle straws - virtually unchanged. This is getting exciting! #OMAOchallenge

DAY 46: OMAO straw (left) keeps getting flatter and thinner. The middle section is breaking into strands, which I think will continue growing out. Eventually, each strand will break into thinner strands. Paper straw is molding and rotting.

DAY 52: we are more than half way through our #OMAOexperiment. Let's see what the coming weeks bring us!