Starbucks’ move toward strawless cold-drink lids was part of a packaging programme announced in 2018, with an initial worldwide goal of phasing out fossil-fuel-derived plastic straws by 2020. The lid let customers sip through an opening at the rim, similar to the design used for hot drinks. It changed how an iced drink could be served without removing the need for a cup and lid.
The change came amid wider interest in alternatives, including biodegradable straws at a café in the Philippines and proposals to restrict plastic straws in England. Those examples reflected the debate at the time, rather than a description of today’s rules or every café’s current practice.
Early plans described strawless lids for drinks such as iced coffee, tea and espresso beverages, with alternative-material straws for drinks such as Frappuccinos. Paper and compostable-plastic straws were among the options discussed. The intended choice of material did not mean every store had completed the same transition on the same date.
Starbucks’ 2021 Global Commitment report says the U.S. and Canadian strawless-lid rollout was completed in fiscal 2020. The company reported that the redesigned lid used approximately nine percent less plastic than its previous flat lid and straw together. That comparison concerns those components, not the weight or overall environmental footprint of the entire drink.
The same report describes delays to alternative-material straws because of regulatory and manufacturing challenges during COVID-19. A completed lid rollout therefore did not establish that every plastic straw had disappeared. Starbucks also stated that straws would remain available to customers who needed or requested them.
A recyclable lid is still a disposable item
The lid was made from polypropylene, a plastic used in many kinds of packaging. A material can be suitable for recycling while the item made from it is still designed for one use. Recyclability depends on the collection and processing systems available where the drink is consumed; placing something in a recycling bin does not by itself establish that it will become a new product.
Starbucks described its lids as recyclable in many U.S. and Canadian markets, which is narrower than saying they could be recycled everywhere. The cup, lid and straw can also have different disposal requirements, even when they arrive together as one purchase.
Disposal, reuse and accessibility
The most useful disposal information is the guidance for the actual cup and lid at the place they are being discarded. A recycling symbol identifies a material; it does not replace the local collector’s list of accepted items. Likewise, a product described as compostable needs the conditions and collection route specified for it. It should not be assumed to break down safely in the sea or to belong in an ordinary plastics-recycling bin.
Accessibility also matters when changing how a drink is served. Some customers need a straw, and an alternative that works comfortably for one person may not meet another person’s needs. Providing that option is compatible with reducing unnecessary distribution. A reusable straw or cup can be practical for someone who can carry, clean and use it repeatedly, but simply purchasing an item labelled reusable does not establish how often it will be used. The strawless lid addressed one part of takeaway packaging; reducing waste also depends on the rest of the package and what happens to it after the drink is finished.
Further reading: Starbucks’ 2021 Global Commitment report.
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