 is listening to consumers and has announced plans to eliminate the use of plastic straws from its stores globally by 2020. ){kind=link}
Coffee chain Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) is listening to consumers and has announced plans to eliminate the use of plastic straws from its stores globally by 2020.
With growing pressure from environmental activists and governments, the Seattle-based company joined the list of global chains who are testing plastic alternatives.
The move will eliminate the use of over one billion plastic straws every year said the company.
Starbucks plans to end the use of plastic straws through the use of new, recyclable strawless lids as well as roll out straws made from alternative materials such as paper, which will be available on request.
It is not just Starbucks who is reducing plastic waste. Earlier this year, McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) announced plans to switch to paper straws in the UK and Ireland by 2019. Dunkin’ Donuts (NASDAQ: DNKN) also said that it would ditch the use of polystyrene foam cups from all stores by 2020.
Plastic straws only make up only about four percent of the plastic trash, however, they are an important agenda for environmentalists and remains an important symbol.
The new strawless-lids will appear in the Seattle and Vancouver Starbucks this year and will be followed by the coffee chains in US and Canada next year.