OMAO Straws manufactures and supplies biodegradable drinking straws made from PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates), a naturally-occurring material derived from vegetable oil. These straws offer the performance of traditional plastic straws without sogginess or taste alteration. The PHA material ensures the straws fully decompose into CO2 and H2O within approximately 90 days, providing a home compostable alternative to PLA and paper options.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Conventional plastics persist in the environment for hundreds of years, contributing significantly to pollution in landfills and oceans. Many "green" alternatives, like PLA straws, require specialized industrial composting facilities to degrade, often ending up in landfills where they persist nearly as long as traditional plastics.
Solution
OMAO Brands offers a truly biodegradable alternative to traditional plastics, specifically single-use straws, made from PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates), a naturally occurring biopolymer derived from vegetable oil. Unlike PLA, OMAO's PHA-based straws break down naturally in approximately 90 days in various environments, including home compost and marine environments, without requiring special treatment or industrial facilities. These straws function similarly to conventional plastic straws without imparting any taste or texture to beverages, addressing the shortcomings of paper straws that become soggy and alter the drinking experience. By using PHA, OMAO provides a solution that reduces plastic waste and its harmful impact on ecosystems.
Target Audience
OMAO's primary customers are restaurants, cafes, bars, and environmentally conscious consumers seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional plastic straws.
Features
- Constructed from PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates), a naturally-occurring, vegetable-oil-derived biopolymer
- Fully biodegradable in approximately 90 days in home compost, soil, and marine environments
- Does not require industrial composting facilities for degradation
- Does not become soggy or alter the taste of beverages, unlike paper straws
- Available in multiple sizes: Jumbo (7.75” x 0.216”), Jumbo Short (5.75” x 0.216”), Giant (7.75” x 0.276”), Cocktail (5.75” x 0.137”), and Boba (10" x 0.472")
- BPA Free