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  Life   More Features  08 Aug 2019  Coffee chain plans to eliminate use of straws by 2020

Coffee chain plans to eliminate use of straws by 2020

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Aug 8, 2019, 3:37 pm IST
Updated : Aug 8, 2019, 3:47 pm IST

Starbucks introduces a new lid which doesn’t require straws and uses less plastic.

The retail industry is doing a huge push towards sustainable and environment-friendly packaging and Starbucks has jumped onto the bandwagon. (Photo: Representational/Pixabay)
 The retail industry is doing a huge push towards sustainable and environment-friendly packaging and Starbucks has jumped onto the bandwagon. (Photo: Representational/Pixabay)

While it is impossible to resist the temptation of a Starbucks coffee, we have to be environmentally conscious at the same time. A trip to Starbucks generates a lot of waste in the form of plastic cups, straws and napkins.

The retail industry is doing a huge push towards sustainable and environment-friendly packaging and Starbucks has jumped onto the bandwagon. Canada became the first country to introduce starwless lids in its Starbucks. They are expected to hit Toronto this month.

In the next few weeks, the starless lids will start getting rolled out in outlets across Toronto, reported Narcity. The rest of Canada will see these innovative lids in 2020.

These new lids are lightweight and contain 9 per cent less plastic than the current lid and star, a huge milestone for the coffee chain. Over time, the company plans to phase out plastic straws completely across its 30,000 locations worldwide. The shift will eliminate the waste generation of 1 billion straws per year. But they are expected to be available on request to those who ask for it.

While avoiding the usage of straws seems like a small step at this moment, it is a huge deal. Straws are choking up the environment and causing a great deal of marine pollution. Reducing the use of straws is a great way to enjoy your coffee and be environmentally-conscious at the same time.

Tags: starbucks, plastic waste