Why Dispose Off Straws When You Can Eat Them? Leila Silijeur’s Innovation Protects Nature

Plastic items take up to a thousand years to decompose making it one of the most durable materials on earth. Conversely, it is one of the most used synthetic products in the world. Due to improper disposal and mass usage, plastic has not only become an environmental eyesore, but it is also one of nature’s most potent destroyers. At least, 100 million marine wildlife die annually due to plastic pollution. It is estimated that by 2050, the world would have more plastic in the oceans than fishes.

Straws make up 4 percent of plastic trash by piece and Leila Siljeur- 19 years old student of Stellenbosch University, South Africa- battles the proliferation of this plastic material by making it into a one-of-a-kind of drink dessert.

After Leila came across a post on Facebook which shows a sea turtle with a fork stuck in its nose, she became inspired to save the planet in her own way. She enthused, in an interview with News 24 “It’s a funny story. I told my mom I want to save the planet and I want to do that by means of chemical solutions…’’.
Leila Siljeur solution is Eat Me Straws; edible biodegradable straws that come in different flavors.

After a session with her mentor at the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, Leila and her team of eight other female students researched and experimented with a range of deglazing and emulsifying agents to find the best formula for taste and function. While admitting the existence of other bio-degradable straws, Leila says they do not decompose quickly enough. Of paper straws, the most popular of the assortment, she said to News 24, “Paper straws are useless. After five minutes, you’re eating paper. I remember thinking this is so backward and we really need to move forward.” This thinking compelled her to invent Eat Me Straws which decomposes much faster without taking anything away from the original taste of the drink.

The Chemical Engineering student who set out on the project more as a hobby has found herself conserving the environment as planned and becoming a businesswoman. She already won R50 000- an Allan Gray Orbis Foundation National Jamboree grant for her innovation- and looks forward to receiving more grants to enable her mass produce and distribute on a much larger scale.

Thanks to Leila Siljeur, the ocean is safer and you can now eat your straws and have it.