*By Justin Chermol*
Starbucks announced plans on Monday to elimate the use of plastic straws by 2020, making it the largest company yet to undertake the green initiative.
The coffee chain will transition to new lids which feature a raised lip to drink from, a design already being used for some of the company’s cold brew drinks. The new lids will begin rolling out this fall in Canada as well as in Starbucks’ home city of Seattle. For those customers who insist on straws, the company will offer eco-friendly versions made of paper or compostable plastic.
Starbucks stated this policy will cut the number of plastic straws used by one billion per year -- the proliferation of them has contributed to devastating ocean pollution and threatens marine life.
Local governments across the United States initially spearheaded the plastic-strawless movement. Just last week Seattle banned both plastic straws and utensils. Some of America’s largest cities like New York and San Francisco have proposed plans to remove plastic straws as well.
Voyager Ventures founding partners Sarah Sclarsic and Sierra Peterson discuss how they choose products and companies to invest in, and why there’s such high demand for sustainable tech.
Karl Farmer, Vice President and Portfolio Managers at Rockland Trust Bank, breaks down why inflation and interest rates may stick at these levels, and why Bitcoin still carries some risks.
If you wince at the grocery store checkout, you’re not alone. Wall Street Journal reporter Jesse Newman breaks down why prices are so high – and not going down anytime soon.
An inflation gauge favored by the Federal Reserve increased in January, the latest sign that the slowdown in U.S. consumer price increases is occurring unevenly from month to month. (Getty Images)
