Starbucks Japan to use paper straws for its iced and Frappuccino blended beverages. Credit: Starbucks Corporation.

Starbucks Coffee Japan is set to eliminate single-use plastic straws from nearly 1,500 stores across the country, providing paper straws for iced beverages and Frappuccino blended beverages.

From January next year, the company will begin offering paper straws in regular sizes for iced beverages and large sizes for Frappuccino blended beverages.

According to the company, the move is expected to eliminate 200 million single-use plastic straws annually from its stores in Japan.

Starbucks Japan representative director and CEO Takafumi Minaguchi said: “Since we announced our global commitment to eliminate single-use plastic straws across all stores by the end of 2020, Starbucks Japan has focused tirelessly on finding a straw alternative that meets our quality standards.

“We’re pleased to announce that we’ve achieved our goal. As technologies and innovations evolve, we see opportunities to continue to develop the premium Starbucks Experience our customers love in a sustainable way.”

The paper straws have been produced as paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) exclusively for Starbucks Japan.

Initially, the company plans to distribute standard-sized paper straws in select stores across the country, with the intention to roll out the straws to all its retail locations by March next year.

For its Frappuccino blended beverages, Starbucks will launch large-sized paper straws by May.

All paper straws will be offered in paper packaging displaying positive messages regarding sustainability.

Starbucks Coffee has been creating ways to reduce single-use plastics at its stores in Japan. As part of this initiative, the company also offered some discount for customers who bring their cups or tumblers.