April 20, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Starbucks Coffee Korea said on Aug. 30 it will test paper straws at its stores next month to replace plastic ones as part of its efforts to protect the environment.

The coffee chain said the two-month test operation is set to begin Sept. 10 at 100 stores in Seoul and other major cities before expanding the introduction of the paper straws to all of its stores throughout the country in November.

The straws, developed by the coffee chain operator, will be provided in two colors, white and green, both of which received food safety approvals in the United States and Korea. The company said it will choose one color for official adoption after the trial period, reflecting customers’ preference.

The latest decision is part of Starbucks Coffee’s broader move to eliminate single-use plastic straws from its 28,000 stores worldwide by 2020. In a statement last month, the global coffee giant said it expects the move will eliminate more than 1 billion plastic straws per year from all of its stores.

Around 180 million plastic straws are used at the coffee chain in Korea every year, according to Starbucks Coffee Korea, the joint venture between Starbucks Coffee International and Korean retail giant Shinsegae.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)