Starbucks’ Environmentally-Friendly Sippy Cup Lids Will Be Available In 7 More Major Markets By August
UPDATE: August 27, 2019 at 11:55 a.m.
Starbucks is still on track to phase out plastic straws from all 30,000-plus of its stores worldwide by 2020 with seven more markets making the switch by August 2019. In mid July, stores in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle transitioned to the sippy cup-style lids initially designed for Starbucks’ Draft Nitro drink. Washington, D.C., San Diego, Indianapolis, and Toronto will follow suit in August.
The new lid has 9 percent less plastic than the current lid and straw served at most Starbucks, the brand says. It will be used on all iced drinks except Frappuccinos, which will come with a straw made from paper or PLA compostable plastic made from sustainable materials. People who prefer or need a straw can still request one; the ones given out will be made with plant-based or other sustainable materials.
ORIGINAL POST: July 09, 2018 at 6:58 a.m.
Back in 2016, Starbucks began serving coffee with strawless lids at Seattle's Reserve Roastery. The 'sippy cups,' as the internet so lovingly dubbed them, have started to roll out across the country with Starbucks' new cold-foam topped drinks. In the next few years, you can expect to see a lot more of 'em. The coffee giant announced today a global effort to eliminate single-use plastic straws by 2020, and the new lids are a major player in making that happen.
Currently available at more than 8,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada, the lids will be phased in to every Starbucks in Seattle and Vancouver this fall, with more regions following suit.
If you're already panicking over how to drink your beloved Frapp — don't freak out. The iconic green straw will still be available, but in a new material. Instead of using single-use plastic straws, Starbucks is switching over to paper and compostable plastic straws, served with Frappuccinos and available upon request for customer "who prefer or need a straw," per the company.
Along with announcing the environmentally-friendly decision — it's said to save 1 billion straws per year — Starbucks announced two new drinks rolling out tomorrow. Starting Tuesday, July 10, U.S. and Canadian menus will feature a Salted Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew (served with a strawless lid) and an Iced Vanilla Bean Coconutmilk Latte. The latter uses vanilla bean and coconutmilk shaken with ice and shots of espresso, which makes is less calorie-dense than other lattes. Since there's no syrup, there's also less sugar.
Starbucks' effort to go strawless is one of many from companies and cities hoping to reduce waste and keep straws from ending up in the ocean, where they can hurt wildlife. Last week, Seattle announced it is the first city to ban plastic straws and utensils.
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