Starbucks to get rid of plastic straws in two years

Starbucks Coffee Company aims to eliminate single-use plastic straws from its more than 28,000 company operated and licensed stores around the world by 2020.

The move is in line with the food and beverage retailer’s commitment to sustainability as well as represents its forward thinking in tackling the global waste problem.

The plastic straws will be replaced with either strawless lid or straws made up of paper or compostable plastic, according to the company.

The strawless lid is currently available in more than 8,000 stores in the US and Canada for select beverages with a global rollout to follow soon. Starbucks, in addition, will begin offering alternative-material straws.

“With eight million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean every year, we cannot afford to let industry sit on the sidelines, and we are grateful for Starbucks leadership in this space,” said Nicholas Mallos, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program.