A proposal by advocacy group As You Sow (Oakland, CA) was presented and voted on by shareholders in March asking Starbucks to phase out plastic straws. It received less than 30% support, but As You Sow considered it a victory. 

Starbucks has already begun taking action on the plastic straw matter with plans to switch to a strawless lid or straws made from an alternative material at its more than 28,000 company operated and licensed stores by 2020. According to a report in the July 10, 2018, edition of the Wall Street Journal, Starbucks had recommended that shareholders vote against the proposal, which fell short of a majority. However, the coffee giant already uses its strawless plastic lid in more than 8,000 stores in the United States and Canada. Read Full Article - Plastics Today, July 11, 2018