Starbucks Japan Switches to Kaneka Green Planet® Biomass Plastic Straws to Reduce Plastic Waste

Source: Starbucks in Japan to ditch paper straws for plant-based biomass plastic in 2025 - The Japan Times Tokyo, Japan — Starbucks Coffee Japan has announced a major sustainability initiative: replacing paper straws with plant-based biomass plastic straws starting January 2024. This move aims to reduce environmental impact while improving customer experience.

Introducing Kaneka Green Planet® Straws

The new straws, trademarked as Green Planet® and developed by Kaneka Corporation, are made from 99% plant-based materials, including vegetable oil. Compared to paper straws, these biodegradable straws:

• Cut CO₂ emissions significantly
• Reduce waste by up to 50%
• Maintain superior functionality and durability

Eco-Friendly and Customer Approved

Unlike paper straws—which often soften mid-use and affect drink flavor—Kaneka Green Planet® straws are designed to resist softening, preserving both texture and taste. They are also:

• Fully biodegradable in seawater and soil, addressing microplastic pollution concerns
• Colored green to align with Starbucks branding

Rollout Timeline

• Jan 23: Launch at 32 Okinawa stores
• March: Nationwide rollout
• April: Full adoption with 6mm straws for iced drinks and 10mm straws for Frappuccinos

This marks Starbucks Japan’s first straw policy shift since 2020, when paper straws were introduced.

Industry-Wide Sustainability Efforts

Starbucks joins other major brands in Japan pushing for eco-friendly alternatives:

• McDonald’s Japan: Replaced straws and utensils with sustainable options since 2022
• Tully’s Coffee Japan: Using biomass straws since 2019
• Pronto Corp.: Transitioned to bamboo and food-derived materials in 2023

Takafumi Minaguchi, CEO of Starbucks Japan, stated: “We have carefully considered customer feedback on drinkability. This transition is part of our ongoing commitment to sustainable business practices.”