Starbucks degradable straws, made of vegetable oil, look so good!
On December 6, Starbucks launched new biodegradable plant straws in stores in Japan, and they will be available in Starbucks stores across Japan starting in March 2025. This is another important action to support the company's environmental commitment to actively use resources and its commitment to reduce waste by half by 2030.
This new straw is made of Green Planet®, a plant-based biodegradable biopolymer. Using vegetable oil as its main ingredient, rather than petroleum derivatives, this new straw naturally degrades into carbon dioxide (CO₂) and microorganisms in the soil, alleviating the problem of waste plastics, including microplastics, polluting the ocean. Over its life cycle, this straw emits less CO₂ than the FSC-certified paper straws currently supplied by Starbucks, which results in half the weight of straws discarded in Starbucks stores.
This innovation comes from Starbucks' daily experience in all stores in Japan, one cup at a time. The company developed these new straws using valuable input from partners and customers to balance environmental impact and user experience. Strength, durability and a sleek feel are at the core of its design, while maintaining the iconic Starbucks green color.
Green Planet® straws are currently available at 32 Starbucks stores in Okinawa Prefecture for customers who purchase iced beverages, such as Frappuccinos. They will be available in all Starbucks stores in Japan starting in March 2025. Subsequently, thicker straws for seasonal Frappuccino drinks will be introduced in all stores in Japan by early April 2025.
Starbucks began transitioning from petroleum-derived plastic straws for iced beverages in 2018 to FSC-certified paper straws in Japanese stores in 2020, with thicker straws to be introduced in 2021. To further reduce waste, Starbucks introduced FSC-certified paper cups and cutlery made from biomass materials for takeout orders and began offering customers iced beverages in resin cups to enjoy in-store.
Starbucks is accelerating its efforts in Japan to support the company's environmental commitments. Nearly 200 stores are now certified as "Green Shops" eco-friendly retailers. About 900 locations recycle coffee grounds, eliminating one of the largest sources of food waste generated by every store.
