Starbucks plans to trial “greener cups” in several markets worldwide. In New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and London, the company will test a few different cups that are recyclable and compostable.
The beverage giant also announced it is rolling out a redesigned, lightweight recyclable strawless lid in all of its stores throughout the U.S. and Canada within the next year. Starbucks says the lids will have 9 percent less plastic than the current lid and straw.
Kate Melges, Greenpeace Plastics Campaigner, said that to truly tackle the plastic pollution crisis, Starbucks must significantly ramp up its investment in reusability, incentivizing customers to bring their own cups and mugs. Swapping out one throwaway material for another is not the real solution, as it isn't certain consumers would recycle the product's new materials.