By 2020, the company will replace plastic straws with straw-free lids or alternative-material straws as part of its initiative to lower waste worldwide
By NACS Online
Starbucks Coffee Co. will eliminate plastic straws from its stores within two years as part of its initiative to slash its waste across the world, the Wall Street Journalreports. The coffee chain will move to a strawless lid or straws made out of materials other than plastic to replace plastic straws. The company already has a strawless lid for iced coffee, espresso and tea drinks in more than 8,000 U.S. and Canadian stores. The lid is being tested with Starbucks Draft Nitro beverages in Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, China and Thailand.
This is a “significant milestone” for its goal of delivering beverages and food “in more sustainable ways,” said Kevin Johnson, Starbucks CEO. The change will eliminate more than 1 billion plastic straws a year.
Hyatt Hotels Corp. also said this week it would only hand out plastic straws and picks upon request at its properties starting September 1, and provide “eco-friendly alternatives” when possible. On July 1, Seattle became the first U.S. city to ban plastic straws, and the anti-plastic straw movement appears to be gaining ground as more businessesare indicating they will stop using plastic straws. Last month, McDonald’s announced it would be eliminating plastic strawsfrom its Irish and U.K. locations, and has begun testing plastic straw alternatives at U.S. stores.
