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's waded into the contentious debate over paper vs plastic straws with an executive order Monday favoring the plastic variety. The executive order instructs federal agencies to look at their procurement processes covering straws and also asks Trump's Domestic Policy Council to tackle the issue.