The presence of PFAS is concerning for two reasons: one, studies show that exposure to certain levels may lead to adverse health outcomes, though there are still a lot of unknowns, and two, it means that the paper product is not fully biodegradable because, as the name suggests, forever chemicals take a very long time to break down.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning federal use of paper straws, claiming they “don’t work" or “last very long".