In Seattle, ubiquitous coffee chain Starbucks has joined several other retailers in announcing plans to ditch straws.
Alternatives include newly designed, straw less lids for iced coffee, tea, and expressos. The company will also introduce alternatives made from paper or compostable plastic.
Starbucks operates more than 28,000 locations globally. The ban, which will take roughly two years, will eliminate more than 1 billion plastic straws annually.
“For our partners and customers, this is a significant milestone to achieve our global aspiration of sustainable coffee, served to our customers in more sustainable ways,” Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Starbucks, said in a statement.
Other chains banning straws include Alaska Airlines, Hilton, AccorHotels, and Royal Caribbean. McDonald’s is set to begin testing alternatives at select US locations later this year.