The next time you go to Starbucks, you might notice something’s missing when you sip your cold drink: a plastic straw. This past summer, Starbucks introduced a new strawless lid for select cold drinks. The company also announced that it will remove all plastic straws by 2020.
Starbucks is one of the many companies cutting down on plastic straws to protect our oceans. More than 8 million tons of plastic wind up in the ocean each year. Trash like plastic straws, bags, and bottles can sicken or kill sea life.
Want to help now? Start by carrying a reusable water bottle and skipping the straw, says Lindsey Palardy at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Everyone can be part of the solution,” she says.