Starbucks makes 'strawless' lids standard in North America to cut down on waste

Whether it actually makes a big difference or not, Starbucks took another step toward getting rid of plastic straws on Thursday.

The massive coffeehouse chain announced that clear plastic "strawless" lids would be the standard going forward in North America for tea, iced coffee, and espresso drinks. These new lids are recyclable, which Starbucks said gives them an environmental advantage over traditional plastic straws people have been using for decades. 

The change comes after a trial period in some North American markets over the past year. Starbucks apparently liked what it saw and decided to make the lids the new normal in both the United States and Canada. The company claims the new lids use nine percent less plastic than the old approach. Read more...