Starbucks Will Ban Plastic Straws by 2020
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
More and more brands around the globe are ditching single-use plastic straws because of their harmful effects on the environment. Starbucks joined the conversation when it announced Monday its stores will completely stop offering the straws by 2020.
The move follows a July 1 decision in Seattle — Starbucks’ original location — to ban all disposable plastic straws, utensils and cocktail picks. Starbucks said it will phase out straws from more than 28,000 locations and anticipates this move will eliminate more than one billion plastic straws per year. The company will make the switch to biodegradable materials like paper and specially designed lids as part of a $10 billion commitment to develop a fully recyclable and compostable global cup solution. Starbucks has already designed a straw-free lid, which is available in more than 8,000 stores in the US and Canada for select beverages like the Starbucks Draft Nitro Cold Brew.
“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,” Kevin Johnson, president and chief executive officer for Starbucks, said in a statement.
Plastic straws are extremely light and cannot be recycled, which means they often end up in oceans, disrupting marine life and breaking apart into microplastics. They are among the top ocean pollutants scientists estimate that there are nearly 7.5 million plastic straws taking over America’s beaches.
Cities in the US and around the world are starting to recognize the harmful impacts straws and other disposable plastic products have on the environment and are creating bans. Along with Seattle, places such as Miami Beach, Malibu, California, and Fort Myers, Florida, have all banned or limited the use of plastic straws in restaurants. Following these cities, in April, British Prime Minister Theresa May called on the nations of the British commonwealth to consider banning plastic straws, coffee stirrers and plastic swabs with cotton on the end, and the EU banned single-use plastic items in May.
Airline companies have also started cutting down on plastic straw usage — most recently Alaska Airlines will replace its plastic products with materials like white birch and bamboo starting July 16.
H/T: AP
Featured image by Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Offer ends 11/10/2021.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.