Starbucks Coffee Japan announced Friday that it will replace paper straws with plant-based biomass plastic straws from January with the aim of reducing environmental impact and enhancing customer experience.
The new straws, trademarked as Green Planet and developed by chemical manufacturing company Kaneka, are made from 99% plant-based materials such as vegetable oil. Compared to paper alternatives, they significantly cut carbon dioxide emissions and up to 50% of waste while maintaining functionality.
Colored green in line with Starbucks’ branding, the company also stated that the material is fully biodegradable in seawater and soil, addressing concerns over microplastic pollution.
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