The new straw is made from Green Planet®, which uses plant oils instead of petroleum feedstocks. The material degrades 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 CO2 than the FSC® certified paper straw that Starbucks uses elsewhere.
Green Planet® straws are currently in 32 Starbucks stores in Okinawa Prefecture for customers who purchase iced beverages. 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.