08. Jan 2025
Starbucks launches biobased, biodegradable straws in Japan
Starbucks (Seattle, WA, USA) has introduced new biodegradable, biobased straws to stores in Japan today, another important action in support of the company’s environmental promise to be resource-positive and commitment to reduce waste by half by 2030.
The new straw is made from Green Planet™, a biobased biodegradable biopolymer. Utilizing plant oils as its main component instead of oil derivatives, the new straw degrades naturally into CO2 and water by microorganisms living in sea water and soil, mitigating issues of ocean pollution with waste plastics including microplastics. Through its lifecycle, the Green Planet straws emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) than the FSC® certified paper straw that Starbucks serves today, resulting in half the weight of discarded straws from Starbucks stores.
This innovation comes as Starbucks delivers its experience one cup and one store at a time at all stores across Japan every day. The company developed these new straws with valuable input from Partners and Customers to balance environmental impact with user experience. Strength, durability and a smooth feel were front and centre in their design, along with maintaining the iconic Starbucks green colour.
Green Planet straws are currently in 32 Starbucks stores in Okinawa Prefecture for customers who purchase iced beverages, such as a Frappuccino®. They will be available in all Starbucks locations across Japan starting in March 2025. This will be followed by the launch of a thicker straw for seasonal Frappuccino beverages in all Japan stores by early April 2025.
Starbucks began its transition from oil-derived plastic straw for iced beverages in 2018 to launch FSC certified paper straws at its stores in Japan in 2020 and a thicker straw introduced in 2021. To further reduce waste, Starbucks launched FSC certified paper cups and cutlery made from biomass materials for to-go orders and began serving iced beverages in resin cups for customers to enjoy in store.
Starbucks is accelerating efforts in Japan to in support of the company’s environmental promise. There are now nearly 200 locations certified as a “Greener Store” eco-friendly retail store. And about 900 locations recycle coffee grounds, eliminating one of the biggest food wastes each store produces. AT
www.starbucks.com