Great Paper Straws Company Emerges Victorious In Startup MHK Competition

The Manhattan, Kansas based manufacturers of Astraws® brand water resistant paper straws™ GreatPaperStraws.com are pleased to announce that they have won the StartUp MHK competition, an entrepreneurial competition held every fall in Manhattan, Kansas. The Astraws® brand is the world’s only water resistant paper straw made of a patent-pending kraft paper.

Enrique Garibay, a founder of Great Paper Straws says, “A big problem that is affecting the whole world right now is plastic waste. If you look at the numbers, it paints a horrific picture. We are generating more than enough plastic waste each year to fill landfills and oceans and, given that plastic takes decades to break down, we’re not doing the world any good. At Great Paper Straws, we’re trying to do what we can to contribute towards eliminating single use plastic.”

“At the StartUp MHK, we pitched our Astraws® brand paper straws in the Non-Tech category, and we’re so incredibly proud to say that we won,” exclaims Garibay. “Paper straws have been in use for a while. You might have heard that McDonald’s was using paper straws in the UK, but they were poorly designed—the problem is the same with most brands of paper straws in the market: they don’t hold up at all when introduced to any liquid and it’s hard to have a drink when your straw is disintegrating. Crucially, however, our product doesn’t. The eco friendly paper straw that we produce is water resistant and lasts much longer than you’d expect a paper straw to last. We worked very hard to design our product and this victory has been great.”

At StartUp MHK, the competitors could win in one of three categories: Tech, Non-Tech, and People’s Choice. As Garibay mentioned, GreatPaperStraws.com won the Non-Tech category, which was comprised of all products, goods, or services that didn’t directly involve any form of technology. In the Tech category were products that aided the technological advancement and services that could benefit the world. The winner for this year was Kestrel Drone and Mapping Solutions, a company that provides drone-aided aerial solutions. The People’s Choice category winner, as the name may imply, was decided by how well the pitch was received by the audience. The company with the best reception at this year’s competition was ieDiscoveries, for their provision of learning experiences with a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

One of the factors that made Great Paper Straws’ victory possible is the fact that the company’s paper straws are all made in the United States, which means that there are no extra costs or tariffs. According to the company, conservative estimates put the number of straws used in the US each day at 550 million. Garibay says, “People are becoming more and more environmentally conscious, so there is a growing need for environmentally friendly options. Our products are meant to satisfy that need, and satisfy it well. Sure, there are other companies that make paper straws, but our product stands out because we’re the only ones making water resistant paper straws™. On top of that, our products are also 100% biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable.”

Customers who have purchased and used Great Paper Straws’ products have nothing but good experiences to share. In their five star Amazon review, Mauricio Plaza says, “I have personal issues with straws made out of paper, they feel icky, but it is all for the dolphins. Now, having said that, this brand is the best I have found so far, in terms of resistance. They can last way longer inside your drink before you feel them lose stiffness.”

In another five star Amazon review, B. Propper says, “Trying to get away from using plastic. Had some paper straws from another manufacturer that just ran out. Chose these based on the fact that they are made in the USA. Very pleased. Good diameter/circumference, no off taste, good texture, maintains structure, reasonably priced compared to the alternative.”

Great Paper Straws’ Astraws® brand water resistant paper straws™ are available for purchase "factory direct" from the company’s website at their official website. The straws can also be purchased via Sysco and USFoods on demand. Garibay says that restaurant or hospitality owners can contact either distributor and request the straws via their distribution network.

Those who want to learn more about Great Paper Straws and the variety of products they have on offer can find more information on their website. Interested parties can also get in touch with Enrique Garibay for further details. In addition to their website, Great Paper Straws maintains a page on Facebook, where they frequently post updates and communicate with their customers. Interested parties can also find the company’s paper straws on Amazon.