According to foreign media reports, due to increasingly serious pollution problems, the use of plastics has received widespread attention, and the latest debate has been transferred to plastic straws. In response, environmental group As You Sow and Starbucks have debated.
Currently on the market, paper straws instead of plastic straws have the problem of cracking beverages without drinking straws. On this issue, beverage companies cannot provide perfect solutions. People have debated whether to use plastic straws or paper straws. The debate is also gradually escalating.
The Wall Street Journal article on March 30, 'The Straw Wars', details the history of straws and the need for use in certain circumstances. Cara Lombardo quoted a dentist in an article. 'People should use straws to drink all other beverages except mineral water'. Paper straws do not maintain their integrity when used, especially when used for milkshakes. At the same time, with plastic straws In contrast, paper straws do not function well for mixing. In Lombardo's article, in order to prevent the decomposition of paper straws, people must drink cocktails quickly.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that some people said that paper straws could hold for 10 minutes until drinking zero coke. The daily newspaper also quoted actor Adrian Grenier's point of view: 'We see drinking straw as an understanding of pollution issues. 'Gateway plastic'. '
As You Sow Environmental Group announced in a recent press conference that Granner was selected as the United Nations Ambassador for Environmental Public Welfare. He spoke on behalf of As You Sow at the Starbucks General Meeting held on March 21 and requested Starbucks to take Act boldly and reduce global plastic footprint'.
The shareholder proposal specifically requires Starbucks to phase out approximately 2 billion plastic straws used each year. These straws are not recyclable and may harm marine life. This resolution requires Starbucks to implement a packaging reuse and recycling program that the company established nine years ago but did not implement. .
As You Sow Senior Vice President Conrad MacKerron commented: “Investors should be concerned about the company’s lack of action. Starbucks will lose its major competitive advantage when competitors such as McDonald's make global recycling promises. Starbucks must take seriously the serious environmental damage caused by plastic straws and lids flowing into waterways around the world. 'People are responsible for discarding items in the right way, especially disposable plastic straws, lids and cups.
Obviously, paper straws have great advantages in terms of environmental protection. Even if they are thrown into the ocean, the paper straws will quickly decompose without leaving any traces. The plastic straws are designed to maintain the strength and durability of straws.
In the past ten years, many environmental organizations have declared war on Starbucks and pointed out that Starbucks’ latest 'shareholder resolution' has failed to fulfill its 2008 commitment: By 2015, cups will be 100% recycled and 25% of beverages will be reusable. Provided in the cup, place the recycling container in front of all stores.
In the resolution, Granier pointed out: 'Starbucks completely failed to achieve its goal. The company supplies about 4 billion paper cups per year, but these paper cups have plastic coatings that require special handling, and the company lacks the basis for recycling paper cups. Facilities, so most of these paper cups are still processed as garbage and not recycled.
As You Sow also pointed out: 'Even if plastic items degrade, they will turn into small particles. Birds and sea animals will ingest food, causing illness and even death. Those packages that degrade in waterways can transfer harmful substances to animals and It may be transferred to humans. '
Starbucks also responded to these remarks. The company pays great attention to environmental issues and points out that the real problem with plastic pollution is that people intentionally discard valuable plastic instead of using plastic products.