Following successful tests of new lightweight, recyclable strawless lids over the past year at select markets in the US and Canada, Starbucks has announced that these lids will be introduced at company-operated and licensed stores throughout North America.

This marks a significant milestone in the company’s effort to eliminate a billion plastic straws globally per year. Starbucks will continue to shift away from single-use packaging and plastics as part of its resource positive commitment announced in January.

“Recyclable, strawless lids for customers across the U.S. and Canada is another step in our journey to reduce our environmental footprint,” says Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks. “As we move closer toward our 2030 target of a 50 percent reduction in waste sent to landfills, the long-standing history of innovation within Starbucks, partnership across the industry and changing consumer behavior remain fundamental to our purpose and our prosperity as an organization.”

The strawless lid will now be the standard for all of Starbucks’ iced coffee, tea, espresso and Starbucks Refreshers beverages. The lid was modeled after the lid from Starbucks hot drinks and has approximately nine percent less plastic than the flat lid and straw historically used for iced beverages. They are made from polypropylene, meets the Association of Plastic Recyclers design guidelines for recyclability and can be recycled in many markets in the US and Canada.

“We developed and trialed several prototypes to arrive at this milestone,” says 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. This is a significant moment for Starbucks as we work to reduce waste and safeguard the environment.”