
Starbucks have promised to stop using plastic straws in all of its stores worldwide by 2020
The coffee chain has nearly 30,000 outlets across the globe and use an estimated 1 billion single-use plastic straws annually throughout. Starbucks will replace the straws with either paper straws or "sip-cups" sans straws altogether.
Kevin Johnson, Starbucks President and CEO said, “For our partners and customers, this is a significant milestone to achieve our global aspiration of sustainable coffee, served to our customers in more sustainable ways.”
Nicholas Mallos, of the Ocean Conservancy applauded the move and said the ban was "a shining example of the important role that companies can play in stemming the tide of ocean plastic".
Some customers have voiced concerns about the plastic lids being brought in to counteract the damage done by the straws. Starbucks has assured commenters that the lids are fully recyclable.
Unlike cups or lids, recycling straws just isn’t possible because of their weight and size, despite the very best intentions.
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) July 9, 2018
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