Starbucks' strawless lids are now available across Canada

Starbucks continues its efforts to phase out plastic straws worldwide and today is a big step in that process.

The company’s recyclable, strawless lid is now available for iced beverages at locations nationwide.

The coffee chain has been trialing the lids in select markets over the past year, but they’re now available everywhere.

“Due to its success, the company is rolling out strawless lids to company-operated and licensed stores across Canada, marking a significant milestone in Starbucks' effort to eliminate one billion straws globally per year,” said a release from the company.

“Starbucks will continue to shift away from single-use packaging and plastics as part of its resource positive commitment announced in January.”

Here are a few features of the new lid:

• Starbucks designed, developed, and manufactured its strawless lid, which will now be the standard for all iced coffee, tea, espresso, and Starbucks Refreshers beverages.
• The lid has approximately 9% less plastic than the flat lid and straw historically used for iced beverages.
• It is made from polypropylene, meeting the Association of Plastic Recyclers design guidelines for recyclability and can be recycled in many markets in Canada.
• There are variations in the lid design to match the variety of beverages Starbucks offers—for example, a slightly wider, tear-drop shaped opening for Nitro beverages and a recyclable domed lid for Frappuccino blended beverages.

“We developed and trialed several prototypes to arrive at this milestone,” said Andy Corlett, director of global packaging solutions and innovations, whose team at Starbucks helped design the lid.

“A recyclable, strawless lid becoming the standard for iced drinks is one small way we can give more than we take from the planet.”