Starbucks Singapore has come under fire after announcing it will remove straws from condiment bars starting April 22, drawing concerns over hygiene, accessibility and sustainability.
The company said in a press release that it was “marking Earth Day with another step to encourage customers to sip more mindfully by eliminating straws from the condiment bar as an added effort to reduce single-use disposables”, Channel News Asia reported.
Customers can request for “100% biodegradable, compostable straws” at the counter, it said.
A Starbucks outlet in Singapore. Photo from Google Maps |
Starbucks said it has also introduced other sustainability initiatives, including a 50-cent discount for customers who bring their own tumblers, encouraging reusable bags, and allowing customers to collect used coffee grounds for gardening.
The move prompted strong reactions online. A post announcing the change on Starbucks Singapore’s Instagram drew nearly 3,000 comments, with many questioning the decision and raising concerns.
Some users said they were uncomfortable with drinking from lids handled by staff who also handle cash while others cited accessibility issues, noting that some people rely on straws to drink.
A comment that received over 21,000 likes asked: “What’s the point of removing straws if you’re still using plastic cups?”
The debate comes as companies step up efforts to reduce single-use plastics, including removing straws and charging for plastic bags. Some consumers have described such efforts as “greenwashing”, a term used to describe businesses overstating the environmental benefits of their products or practices.
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