Starbucks Japan decided to introduce biodegradable plastic straws instead of paper straws starting this year. This decision follows consumer complaints about the inconvenience of paper straws.
In South Korea, not only Starbucks but also most cafe and bakery franchises are using paper straws. However, as the number of franchises introducing biodegradable plastic straws is increasing globally, attention is focused on whether this trend will spread domestically as well.
According to Starbucks Japan, the introduction of biodegradable plastic straws will begin with 32 Starbucks stores in Okinawa Prefecture and will be expanded nationwide by March. By early April, they plan to complete the introduction of thicker straws for Frappuccino (a signature drink made with coffee, cream, and ice).
The newly introduced straws are made using ‘Green Planet,’ developed by the Japanese chemical manufacturing company Kaneka. Green Planet is the product name of the material developed by Kaneka, which is said to be a bio-polymer material primarily composed of plant-based oils.
Development has been underway for 30 years, but it has only recently become commercially viable due to the rapid advancement of microbial biosynthesis technology. Because the straws are naturally broken down into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms that live in seawater and soil, they can help alleviate the problem of marine pollution caused by plastic waste.
According to Starbucks Japan, the Green Planet straws emit less carbon dioxide throughout their lifecycle compared to the FSC® certified paper straws currently provided by Starbucks. In Japan, the transition from regular plastic straws to paper straws began in 2020, and in five years, they have eliminated paper straws. This decision responds to consumer demands expressing discomfort with paper straws while also considering environmental factors. Starbucks Japan noted, 'We introduced the new straws based on feedback from customers and partners,' adding that the straws possess strength, durability, and a smooth feel.
In contrast, Starbucks in South Korea is still using paper straws this year. In December 2021, the Ministry of Environment amended the enforcement rules of the Resource Saving and Recycling Promotion Act (Resource Recycling Act), banning the use of disposable paper cups and plastic straws in restaurants and setting a grace period until November 2023. However, when small business owners and self-employed individuals argued that the financial burden was too high, the Ministry of Environment made a concession. The grace period for the ban on plastic straws has been indefinitely extended.
As a result, most major coffee shops, fast-food companies, and pastry shops in South Korea are continuing to use paper straws. Some have criticized biodegradable materials, arguing that there is currently no system in place to collect biodegradable products separately, necessitating disposal in general waste bags. Thus, these products are incinerated with household waste. The advantage of biodegradable plastics decomposing naturally is practically challenging to achieve.
An industry insider noted, 'In countries like Switzerland and Italy, biodegradable plastics are disposed of with food waste and turned into compost,' adding, 'Conditions for biodegradable plastics to decompose must also be established in South Korea.'
However, interest in biodegradable plastics has been growing recently in South Korea. The Ministry of Environment has released a report stating that when 500 million straws are landfilled, the carbon emissions from paper straws exceed those from biodegradable plastic straws by more than four times.
Franchises worldwide are also rapidly adopting biodegradable plastics. Tully's Coffee Japan has been using straws containing 25% biomass since 2019, and the American company PepsiCo has begun producing snack wrappers from biodegradable plastic materials.
In South Korea, Tous Les Jours has introduced industry-first straws made with PHA, a bio-material that CJ Cheiljedang developed through research and development, by the end of 2023. PHA is a polymer substance that microorganisms create by consuming plant-derived ingredients, and it is said to decompose in both industrial and home composting facilities, as well as in soil and marine environments.
The Tous Les Jours representative explained that the straws, made by blending PHA with industrially biodegradable material PLA, possess similar smooth characteristics and high durability to regular straws. Currently, straws made with PHA are being used in all Tous Les Jours corporate stores and most franchises. It is noteworthy whether the trend of using biodegradable plastics, which is a global phenomenon, will spread in South Korea.