TOKYO, Japan – McDonald’s Japan announced it will stop using paper straws at approximately 3,000 stores nationwide, effective November 19, in response to customer complaints about the difficulty of using them while drinking.
The new lids, made from recycled plastic bottles, will replace paper straws. These straws were introduced in 2022 with a view to reducing environmental impact. The goal is also to facilitate the drinking experience and prevent spills during transportation.
This move follows Starbucks Coffee Japan’s previous switch to plant-based bioplastic straws. McDonald’s Japan will also change its takeout bags to bags made with 95% plant-based bioplastic.
The new products have been tested at a store in Nagasaki since last May, before being implemented nationwide next month.
