The big environmental cheering is that Starbucks plans to discard the use of plastic straws globally by 2020.
Perhaps, the time-frame of two years is needed so the customers can learn or simply de-habituate themselves to enjoy Starbucks cold beverages without straws.
Straws for drinking purposes are certainly a big environmental wastage. They are part of the eight million plastic tons of new plastic entering our oceans every year and stays there. If the trend continues, it is estimated that in 32 years from now oceans will contain more plastic than fish.
Drinking thru a straw has never been a habit nor fascination for me. I always considered it an elite usage, which is not natural and a pure wastage because of its one-time use only.
Drinking without a straw has its own pleasure. Straw delays the taste. Perhaps Starbucks has realized it too.
-by Promod Puri
Promod Puri.com 