Starbucks goes strawless

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In a move to make their business more eco-friendly, Starbucks has begun to eliminate the the use of plastic straws in their stores. According to the New York Times, this change will reduce waste polluting the ocean by eliminating over 1 billion straws used worldwide annually. This change will affect most cold drinks served in their stores, and will be fully implemented by 2020.

Plastic straws are no longer going to be used in most iced drinks because they are not recyclable. These straws are contributing to the abundance of trash filling up the ocean, which causes a decline in the health and lifespan of marine animals.

“I support Starbucks getting rid of plastic straws because I think it is better for the environment, and we need to make a better effort of reducing the amount of plastic polluting our world. I hope that since Starbucks is such a popular company, this change will encourage other businesses to follow, ” Danielle B. ‘21 said.

On July 9, Starbucks revealed a new lid to be used in place of straws. The lid is clear and has a hole shaped like a teardrop, instead of a hole for a straw. This is similar to the rectangular hole in the lids for hot drinks. Frappuccinos are the only exception, due to the consistency. Paper straws will be provided for those drinks instead of the new lid. Any customer who wants or needs a straw for their iced drink must request one. They will then receive a straw made of other sustainable materials, such as paper or compostable plastic.

“Strawless lids get us a long way toward meeting our commitment, significantly reducing the number of straws from Starbucks stores,” Starbucks Customer Service Representative Maria M. said.

Seattle, Wash., home of Starbucks’ corporate headquarters, is one the of the first cities in the United States to ban single-use plastic straws. According to the New York Times, Starbucks’ goal of stopping the use of straws is to inspire other businesses to limit the amount of non-recyclable plastic being used in their everyday activities and sales.

“I think that by Starbucks banning plastic straws, other companies will follow in their footsteps in the near future. I hope this decision promotes change and helps to limit the amount of trash heading towards the ocean and killing marine life,” Olivia G. ‘21 said.