Seattle-based coffee chain Starbucks will go strawless worldwide by 2020.

Strawless lids to replace straws

According to an announcement on Monday, July 9, Starbucks has "designed, developed and manufactured a strawless lid" to be used in place of straws.

The press release added that the strawless lid will "become the standard for all iced coffee, tea and espresso beverages".

But for customers who still prefer to drink through their straws, Starbucks stated that straws made of paper or compostable plastic will be given upon request -- but only for Frappucinos.

Gradual implementation

The lid is already available in over 8,000 stores in the United States and Canada for select beverages.

However, Starbucks will first implement the lids for all cold, non-blended drinks first in Seattle and Vancouver in the third quarter of this year.

The strawless lids will then be rolled out in other places within the US and Canada, and then globally.

As for Asian markets such as Singapore, the lid is being piloted for Nitro beverages.

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Anti-plastic straw trend

This move comes amidst an anti-plastic-straw trend around the world.

For instance, earlier this year, it was announced that England would be banning plastic straws.

KFC Singapore also recently announced that it would stop providing plastic cups and straws for drinks.

Applauded by environmentalists

Starbucks is the largest global brand so far to have made the environmentally-friendly move.

This initiative will remove more than 1 billion straws a year from some 28,000 stores.

Steve Blackledge, senior conservation director for Environment America was quoted by Forbes as saying:

"Nothing we use for five minutes should be able to pollute our waterways for centuries.

Starbucks' commitment is a big step forward in the Wildlife Over Waste movement."

Top image via Pixabay