Roc Paper Straws Helps with Sustainability

The Women-Owned Business Manufactures Paper Straws in the U.S. and Distributes Globally

Photos courtesy of Roc Paper Straws.

Ina mission to save the planet one paper straw at a time, mother-daughter team Kathryn and Karrie Laughton has launched Roc Paper Straws, the nation's newest paper straw manufacturing company. The Rochester, NY manufacturer is one of only a handful in the U.S. and the only one in New York State and the northeast.

Roc Paper Straws President Karrie Laughton is a market insider. As the owner of Lux Lounge, a popular Rochester bar, she wanted to protect the environment. Replacing plastic straws with paper was one way to help. But finding quality, durable eco-friendly straws that would not get soggy and fall apart took a lot of work. In addition, the market need was not being fulfilled by existing manufacturers.

After three years of planning, perseverance, and pandemicrelated delays, the Laughtons invested half-million dollars in the best new equipment. They renovated a 10,000-square-foot manufacturing space, sourced sustainable, high-quality foodgrade paper, glue, and inks, and hired key employees. They also scored lending from Rochester Economic Development Corporation, which empowers new and existing companies to start, grow and thrive.

Roc Paper Straws is now making and distributing a range of standard and custom-branded highquality, durable, ecofriendly paper drinking straws. There are no forever chemicals, and the straws are nontoxic, food grade, ecofriendly, biodegradable, marine-safe, and compostable. They are available wrapped and unwrapped in an array roc paper straws helps with sustainability of colors and can be custom branded with company colors and logos.

Their product and shipping boxes are made from recycled material and are recyclable using Kraft paper tape and compostable stickers.

"The irreversible damage single-use plastics have had on our environment is astounding. People are insisting on change," said Karrie Laughton. "Plastics can be recycled, but less than 10 percent are. Plastic straws are consistently one of the most littered plastic items in the top 10 list of items found in international coastal cleanups. They end up in landfills, pollute oceans, and are detrimental to wildlife and beautiful sea creatures, and microplastic particles end up in our food and drinking water. We have addressed these key environmental issues and the leading consumer complaint that paper straws get soggy by using food-grade glue and dyes and a high-quality, more durable, thicker grade paper."

Roc Paper Straws products are available online at rocpaperstraws. com. Products ship free to the lower 48 states. For institutional use and custom orders, contact Roc Paper Straws at (585) 355-4441 or rocpaperstraws@gmail.com.