[Teheran-ro] The Paradox of Plastic Phase-out

"Right now, the market for paper straws is virtually zero."
These are the words of a CEO at a paper straw manufacturing company. Just a few years ago, this industry was seen as a promising alternative to plastic straws. However, demand has plummeted recently, forcing some companies to the brink of closure. Trusting in government policy, they expanded facilities and made investments, but as policy logic shifted, the market quickly contracted. What remains are idle equipment, employees, and a growing distrust of policy.
Although the government has introduced a Plastic Phase-out Roadmap, trust in single-use product policies on the ground has only diminished. Systems once promoted for their eco-friendliness have been rolled back within just a few years, now criticized as 'non-eco-friendly' or 'inefficient.' As a result, public acceptance of these policies is faltering. The real issue is not the severity of regulation, but whether policies are consistent and predictable.
Paper straws are a prime example. The government has encouraged their use as an alternative to plastic straws, but now plans to stop providing straws in stores unless requested by customers. In practice, this approach allows straws to be given out regardless of material, so decisions will inevitably come down to price and convenience.
As a result, the industry expects that cheap plastic straws, especially low-cost Chinese products, will replace paper straws. Domestically produced eco-friendly alternatives cannot compete on price due to their cost structure, and without policy protections, they lose their place in the market. Ironically, policy changes intended to promote eco-friendliness are pushing out domestic alternatives and increasing dependence on imported single-use products.
Companies that invested based on policy signals have been hit hard. As demand collapses, the entire industrial ecosystem is shaken, yet there is little clarity about responsibility or compensatory measures for these policy shifts. If the government continues to encourage transitions for environmental reasons only to reverse course shortly after, fewer companies will be willing to trust and follow such policies.
One CEO who launched a paper straw business a few years ago and made 'eco-friendliness' the company's identity now laments having to reverse that stance. He has persuaded his staff to pursue green initiatives, but now questions whether they can simply return to making plastic straws just because the policy rationale has changed.
Policies can change. However, those changes must be predictable and their reasons clearly explained. The more unstable the policy, the weaker the foundation for a transition away from plastic becomes.
aber@fnnews.com Ji-young Park Reporter