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Starbucks is saying goodbye to straws...in most cases.

The Seattle-based coffee chain announced in July 2018 that it would promise to ban the use of plastic straws worldwide by 2020. Two years later, the company is fulfilling its promise.

On Thursday, Starbucks stated in a press release that strawless cup lids will now become standard for iced beverages in stores in the United States and Canada, replacing plastic straws that are not normally recyclable.

The transparent lid is made of polypropylene, which is another recyclable plastic. The coffee chain claims that this lightweight lid is based on a hot drink lid, and the plastic used in its design is about 9% less than the previous flat plastic lid and straw combined.

Starbucks Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Kobori said in a statement: "Providing recyclable, strawless lids for customers in the U.S. and Canada is another step in reducing our environmental footprint."

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Andy Corlett, Director of Global Packaging Solutions and Innovation at Starbucks, added: “Recyclable, strawless lids have become the standard for iced beverages. Way. This is an important moment for Starbucks because we are working hard to reduce waste and protect the environment."

Customers can expect strawless lids for all iced coffee, tea, espresso and refreshing drinks. For beverages such as Frappuccino with a plastic dome-shaped lid, Starbucks will continue to provide straws unless prohibited by local law.

Last year, Starbucks expanded its market testing of strawless lids and introduced them to stores in seven other cities, including Los Angeles, Seattle, Indianapolis, and Washington, DC

The ban on plastic straws is hailed as a move towards a more sustainable future. It is good for people and animals, but it has also been criticized for its negative impact on people with disabilities. Some people say that straws have changed their lives and include people who rely on straws to drink beverages. Starbucks insists that any customer who requires a straw can still use the straw.

The coffee company previously announced other initiatives aimed at improving the company's sustainable development footprint. This includes a competition to find "innovative cup solutions" for Americans' daily coffee drinking habits. In early March, Starbucks also revealed that it would test a recyclable, biodegradable hot coffee cup. However, at about the same time, the coffee giant also announced that it would suspend its reusable cup program due to coronavirus concerns.

Other companies have also announced the ban on certain types of plastic products. McDonald's in the United Kingdom and Ireland said it would eliminate plastic straws in all stores by the end of last year. IKEA promised to cut all disposable plastic products sold in stores and restaurants, such as straws and plates, by this year. Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the United States, said it will phase out single-use plastic food bags by 2025.

Starbucks is expected to complete the nationwide rollout of strawless lids to Starbucks stores operated and authorized by the company at the end of September to catch up with other markets in China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand.

Yi-Jin Yu is the editor and reporter of TODAY Digital, and leads the digital coverage of Weekend TODAY on Saturday morning. She is based in New York City.