Are the New Starbucks Lids Really Helping Our Environment?

You’ve most likely seen an ad on Instagram selling those metal straws or influencers boasting their new reusable Starbucks cups that give them discounts. If you have any social media accounts, you have probably realized that Starbucks recently stopped giving out their signature, green straws and have replaced their old lids with “sippy cup” lids. That’s because this summer, Starbucks announced that by 2020, they would stop distributing plastic straws and replace them with lids that do not require straws. And as for their blended beverages, Starbucks will be producing either paper or compostable plastic straws. They say that this action will eliminate one billion plastic straws each year. While this may seem like an amazing achievement on the outside, most don’t realize that this will actually increase Starbucks’ plastic use.

The old lids weighed between 3.23 and 3.55 grams, depending on cup size, while the new lids weigh between 3.55 to 4.11 grams. These new lids are indeed recyclable while the straws are not, however, the company never addressed the fact that more plastic would be consumed. Along with this, it is important to mention that not every item thrown into the recycling bin actually ends up getting recycled, meaning many of these lids may end up piling on the ocean floor.

While this is a concern that has not been addressed, Starbucks eliminating straws can still be seen as an environmental milestone. Starbucks is the first company to “ban” straws and has received support from non-profit organizations and foundations. In fact, Starbucks is likely to be one of the most proactive companies, constantly finding ways to improve and reduce environmental concerns. As mentioned before, Starbucks gives discounts to those who bring in their own cups. They also ensure that their coffee beans are ethically-sourced and in London, they charge extra for cups. Starbucks and all its achievements have inspired other companies to take action to make the world a greener place.