Customers in Switzerland will soon see plastic straws back on their Capri Sun packets. In the EU, however, paper straws are here to stay.
Capri Sun is hoping to bring back plastic straws for its juice products.
Group CEO Roland Weening revealed the decision to Swiss newspaper Sonntagszeitung.
“We are working towards using a recyclable plastic straw again, at least in Switzerland, where, unlike in the EU, the ban does not apply,” Weening announced.
The Capri Sun boss was referring to a restriction, introduced in July 2021, which outlaws the sale of single-use plastic products in the EU.
The aim is to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up as marine litter, which can then have harmful effects on ocean wildlife.
Since the European Commission implemented the ban, many firms have replaced non-reusable plastic straws with paper alternatives.
Weening commented that the paper model nonetheless “annoys many customers”, despite his firm’s efforts to stop straws from disintegrating.
The drink packaging is designed to be pierced with a straw, meaning that paper versions make it more difficult to open the product.
“The plastic tube ban is well-intentioned, but in our case it makes no sense at all,” said Weening.
Capri Sun’s intention to reintroduce plastic straws in Switzerland is motivated by competitive pressures.
Many rival brands in the country currently offer plastic straws and sell them at cheaper prices.
