Starbucks announced on Monday it would get rid of plastic straws at all stores by 2020 to help tackle plastic pollution.

Plastic straws will disappear from over 28,000 Starbucks stores worldwide over the next two years, and drinks will instead be served with a new strawless lid that has a “teardrop-shaped opening” the size of a thumbprint.

The company says the move could eliminate more than a billion straws a year.

The moves comes amid growing concerns over the impact of single-use plastic straws on the environment.

Colleen Chapman, vice president of Starbucks global social impact, said in a statement that the move is to addresses calls from partners to reduce the need for straws.

“Not using a straw is the best thing we can do for the environment,” she added.

Home to the headquarters of Starbucks, Seattle became one of the first major US cities to ban the use of plastic straws at restaurants this month except when customers request one.

According to the World Economic Forum, scientists believe given the current track that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.

By Yim Hyun-su (hyunsu@heraldcorp.com)