In 2018, Scientists estimated that there were 7.5 million straws in the oceans. Yet Starbucks, one of the biggest chain coffee distributors  in the country, is using plastic straws? I am calling on Starbucks to stop using plastic straws- for good. 

In July of 2018, Starbucks released a statement claiming that, by 2020, they were going to completely stop using plastic straws. Now, however, as 2020 is drawing to a close, Starbucks is STILL using plastic straws. How do I know this? Just the other day, I went to Starbucks, and they gave me a plastic straw. There was no mention of an alternative straw. They handed me the plastic straw, basically asking people to harm our beloved oceans. 100,000 marine mammals die every year from pollution in the ocean. Let that sink in. 100,000. Animals. Die. Because. We. Pollute. The. Ocean. I’m not going to lie, I like a good Starbucks drink every once in a while. But in the place of 100,000 animal lives? I would rather never have Starbucks for the rest of my life.

I do understand that Starbucks is not directly responsible for throwing the straws into the ocean. But the fact that Starbucks is putting all of those straws in the position to be disposed of into the Ocean in the first place is unacceptable. 

Starbucks, we are going to ask you one more time. PLEASE. STOP USING PLASTIC STRAWS. We have to start somewhere. Starbucks, we are starting with you.