Starbucks today announced it will be taking the final step to eliminate all plastic straws from its cafes and reintroducing personal reusable cups across the country as part of its <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-sustainability-commitment-infographic/">ongoing commitment</a>&nbsp;to reduce waste by 50% by 2030.

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Goodbye plastic. Hello paper!

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In support of Starbucks goal to eliminate one billion plastic straws globally every year, Starbucks Canada will introduce a new paper straw, beginning in late August for beverages that require one*. The new paper straws are Starbucks green, compostable and, like many new products offered in Starbucks stores, underwent testing to meet the company’s high-quality standards, without comprising the customer experience. This paper straw was carefully selected for its durability to be used in beverages like Frappuccino® blended beverages.

“Since we announced our global commitment to eliminate single-use plastic straws across all stores, Starbucks Canada has focused tirelessly on finding a straw alternative that meets our quality standards and customer need,” said Lori Digulla, senior vice president and general manager for Starbucks Canada. “We are proud to take this final step to remove all plastic straws from our stores. We remain committed to shifting away from single-use plastics to be part of a solution that helps our planet in a sustainable way.”

The shift to paper straws, together with Starbucks strawless lids, will save more than 68 million single-use plastic straws annually from landfill in Canada.

Personal reusable cups return to Starbucks stores&nbsp;

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Beginning August 24, Starbucks is reintroducing personal reusable cups across company operated stores in Canada.

With more Starbucks stores welcoming customers back in to stores in Canada and across the globe, the company held trials on new and safe ways to reintroduce reusable cups with confidence. As part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to prioritizing partner and customer safety, the company developed a completely contactless, new method—eliminating&nbsp;any shared touch points between the customer and Starbucks partners.&nbsp;​

To encourage customers to choose reusable and reduce single-use cup waste, Starbucks will continue offering customers a $0.10 discount on their beverage of choice.&nbsp;&nbsp;Starbucks will also be reinstating For Here Ware for customers that choose to enjoy their food and beverages in-store (only where available or permitted by local regulations).

Only clean cups will be accepted, and Starbucks partners will not be able to clean them for customers. While for now, personal reusable cups will only be accepted in the café, the company is currently testing safe options for&nbsp;allowing personal reusable cups via the drive thru<a>.</a>

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Cleanliness of cup is checked by your barista, retain your lid

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Reusable is placed in a ceramic mug

Beverage is made, contact free

At the hand-off, pick up your cup

Pop on the lid, and you’re good to go

Both initiatives are vital steps to help Starbucks shift away from single-use packaging and reduce waste, while supporting the company’s global aspiration of a resource-positive future. Efforts to reduce waste is not new to Starbucks and the company continues to explore scalable options here in Canada, including:

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Starbucks continues to make progress in our efforts to reduce waste at our stores around the world. Earlier this year, Starbucks EMEA announced they will offer a reusable cup share program in all&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2021/emea-cup-share-program-2025/">Europe, Middle East and Africa</a>&nbsp;stores by 2025. In July,&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-eliminates-disposable-cups-at-four-stores-in-jeju-south-korea/">Starbucks South Korea</a>&nbsp;launched its first Borrow a Cup program in select stores and recently committed to eliminating single-use cups by 2025.

* An alternative option will be available for customers who require one for accessibility reasons.

Starbucks today announced it will be eliminating all plastic straws from its cafes and reintroducing personal reusable cups across the country as part of its ongoing commitment to reduce waste by 50% by 2030.

Starbucks Canada eliminates all plastic straws and brings back personal reusable cups - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Canada eliminates all plastic straws and brings back personal reusable cups

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/starbucks-canada-eliminates-all-plastic-straws-and-brings-back-personal-reusable-cups/

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As part of the company’s efforts to phase out plastic straws worldwide,a recyclable, strawless lid is the new standard for iced beverages in Starbucks stores

Over the past year, Starbucks has <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2019/greener-cups-and-fewer-straws-at-starbucks-canada/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2019/greener-cups-and-fewer-straws-at-starbucks-canada/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trialed</a> new lightweight, recyclable strawless lids in select markets across the U.S. and Canada. Due to the success of this test, the company is rolling out strawless lids to company-operated and licensed stores, marking a significant milestone in Starbucks effort to eliminate one billion plastic straws globally per year. Starbucks will continue to shift away from single-use packaging and plastics as part of its <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/5-things-to-know-starbucks-sustainability-commitment/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/5-things-to-know-starbucks-sustainability-commitment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resource positive commitment</a> announced in January.

“Recyclable, strawless lids for customers across the U.S. and Canada is another step in our journey to reduce our environmental footprint,” said Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks. “As we move closer toward our 2030 target of a 50 percent reduction in waste sent to landfills, the long-standing history of innovation within Starbucks, partnership across the industry and changing consumer behavior remain fundamental to our purpose and our prosperity as an organization.” 

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Customers in Seattle and Vancouver were the first to see the strawless lids implemented in 2018.&nbsp; Last year, Toronto became the second city in the Canada to offer customers strawless lids.

Starbucks designed, developed, and manufactured its strawless lid, which will now be the standard for all iced coffee, tea, espresso, and Starbucks Refreshers beverages. The lid was modeled after the lid customers recognize from Starbucks hot drinks and has approximately nine percent less plastic than the flat lid and straw historically used for iced beverages. Unlike straws that cannot be recycled because of their size, the strawless lid made from polypropylene, meets the Association of Plastic Recyclers design guidelines for recyclability and can be recycled in many markets in the U.S. and Canada.

“We developed and trialed several prototypes to arrive at this milestone,” said Andy Corlett, director of global packaging solutions and innovations, whose team at Starbucks helped design the lid. “A recyclable, strawless lid becoming the standard for iced drinks is one small way we can give more than we take from the planet. This is a significant moment for Starbucks as we work to reduce waste and safeguard the environment.”

Corlett’s team developed variations in lid design to match the variety of beverages Starbucks offers. For example, the distinct lid for Nitro beverages, which began rolling out in 2018, has a slightly wider, tear-drop shaped opening, designed for the perfect drinking experience of Starbucks velvety-smooth Nitro Cold Brew and beverages with Cold Foam. Similarly, Frappuccino® blended beverages and other drinks with whipped cream will continue to have a domed lid made from recyclable plastic and be accompanied by a straw, except where prohibited by local law. Straws will also remain available in stores for customers upon request.

“Last year alone, volunteers with Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup removed nearly one million straws from beaches and waterways around the world, and that’s one million too many polluting our environment,” said Doug Cress, Vice President of Conservation at Ocean Conservancy. “Starbucks strawless lid is a prime example of how innovation will help us move closer to a healthy ocean free of trash, and we are committed to working with Starbucks through our International Coastal Cleanup and our Trash Free Seas Alliance to drive positive change. Our hope is that other companies follow suit, and that these innovations are met with greater investment from both the public and private sectors in recycling infrastructure and markets to keep the momentum alive.”

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Starbucks continues to make progress against its <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-to-eliminate-plastic-straws-globally-by-2020/" target="_blank">commitment</a> to phase out plastic straws worldwide. Starbucks Korea was the company’s first market to eliminate straws through strawless lids and paper straw alternatives in 2018. In 2019, Starbucks introduced strawless lids in select markets across the U.S., Canada, and China, in addition to introducing FSC (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified paper straws across the UK and Europe. Strawless lids and straws made from alternative materials will continue to be tested and rolled out to more markets in the coming year.

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As part of the company’s efforts to phase out plastic straws worldwide, a recyclable, strawless lid is the new standard for iced beverages in Starbucks throughout North America.

Starbucks Strawless Lids Now Available Across the U.S. and Canada

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2020/starbucks-strawless-lids-now-available-across-the-us-and-canada/