Starbucks dumps plastic straws worldwide

American coffee company Starbucks will ban plastic straws in their stores starting from 2020. A small step for coffee enthusiasts, but a big step for the environment, as the coffee giant uses about a billion straws every year.

New strawless lid

Starting from 2020, Starbucks is banning their plastic lids with straw. They will be replaced by a newly designed strawless lid made of polypropylene you can drink from. In every of its 28.000 locations worldwide, the company will use the new lid with a spout for all iced coffee, tea and espresso beverages. The scoop is set for Seattle en Vancouver.

According to Starbucks, the new lids are easily recyclable and therefore a lot more environmentally friendly than the billion straws the chain annually uses. Coffee fans have nothing to worry about: the new lids are as easy and comfortable as the old straws. The initiative to develop a recyclable alternative for the straws is motivated by the growing success of Starbucks ‘ range of cold drinks. Five years ago, they generated a total share of 37% in sales. In 2017 the cold drinks already reached a share of 50%.