Actor Adrian Grenier, other environmental activists cheer Starbucks decision to phase out plastic straws

Starbucks became the world’s largest food retailer to unveil a plan to stop using plastic straws, with Monday’s announcement applauded by environmentalists who’ve made eliminating plastic straws a priority.

Starbucks, with 28,000 stores worldwide, said the global initiative would be phased in by 2020 and would get rid of 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,” said Starbucks President Kevin Johnson.

Straws are the fifth most common item gathered at beach cleanups, according to the 5 Gyres environmental group. Those that remain in the ocean typically break down into small particles and can be mistaken for food by marine animals. The group’s analysis found that of straws that could be traced to their source, more came from Starbucks than anywhere else.

Environmental groups have increasingly called on Starbucks to lead help lead the charge to end the use of plastic straws, with As You Sow and Lonely Whale pushing for a phase-out at the company’s March shareholder meeting and delivering a petition with more than 1 million signatures to Johnson.

Concerns remain

“Starbucks taught the world how to drink coffee, and I believe that this commitment will help teach the world how to embrace sustainable business practices, starting with the plastic straw,” actor Adrian Grenier, Lonely Whale co-founder, said Monday.

Starbucks will be expanding its use of the strawless lid, now used for iced drinks in more than 8,000 shops in North America, and will begin offering paper or compostable plastic straws.

As You Sow expressed concern that the compostable straws would not always be ideal.

“It is important that compostable straws are used only in locations where there are composting systems in place to actually process them, ” said Conrad MacKerron, the group’s senior vice president. “Otherwise, these straws will continue to generate plastic trash.”

Anti-straw trend

Since California voters endorsed a state law banning most single-use plastic bags in 2014, plastic straws have emerged as environmentalists’ next target in the drive to reduce plastic waste.

A state bill that would allow restaurants to hand out plastic straws only when requested by a customer passed the Assembly 49-25 in May and is now before the Senate. The Democrat-backed measure was opposed by most Assembly Republicans.

The Starbucks announcement Monday comes as businesses are increasingly taking the initiative to eliminate the use of plastic straws and other single-use plastics in advance of changes in the law.

Earlier this year, Alaska Airlines became the first major airline to get rid of plastic straws, and Dunkin’ Donuts announced it was ending the use of polystyrene foam cups. Ikea, Sea World and Royal Caribbean have announced similar initiatives and the Surfrider Foundation keeps a growing list online of environment-friendly restaurants.

McDonald’s continues to be a target of activists.

Siding with McDonald’s corporate position that it’s already on the road to environmental sensitivity, company shareholders overwhelmingly defeated a proposal in May that called for the mega-chain to study the “business risks” associated with its use of plastic straws.

SumOfUs, the corporate responsibility advocates behind the proposal, acknowledged the steps McDonald’s has taken and expressed optimism that plastic straws would eventually be phased out at the restaurant.