Capri-Sun CEO Calls Straw Petition 'Badly Made,' Defends Plastic

The head of Capri-Sun has strongly criticized a petition promoting paper straws, labeling it "badly made" and fundamentally flawed. Hans-Peter Wild, president of the Capri Sun Group Holding AG's board, stated that the demand for paper straws makes absolutely no sense, despite the company's previous efforts.

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The petition was badly made and wrong – that's just by the way. But in substance, the demand for paper straws makes absolutely no sense.

Capri-Sun, based in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, has been seeking European Union approval since 2024 to revert to plastic straws. The company has faced criticism from environmental and consumer advocates for this move. Since 2021, Capri-Sun has used paper straws on its classic drink pouches due to an EU ban on single-use plastic products. However, the company claims consumers have complained that the paper straws are difficult to insert, become soft quickly, and affect the drink's taste.

Wild asserted that the Capri-Sun drink pouch is 100% recyclable and that 90% of paper straws remain inside the pouch after consumption. He believes it would be better for the recyclable straw to stay within the pouch, allowing the entire package to be recycled. The company intends to manufacture the straw from polypropylene, the same plastic used for the pouch.

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The Capri-Sun drink pouch is 100 percent recyclable. 90 percent of the paper straws remain in the bag when it is drunk empty.

Capri-Sun's online petition to gather one million signatures for the return of plastic straws garnered less than 170,000 signatures. Environmental groups have voiced strong opposition to the company's stance. Viola Wohlgemuth of the German Environmental Aid called Capri Sun's persistent fight for single-use plastic straws "incomprehensible from an environmental perspective and a disgrace." She pointed out that the small drink pouches are primarily designed for on-the-go consumption and frequently end up as environmental litter.

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The persistent fight of Capri Sun for single-use plastic straws is incomprehensible from an environmental perspective and a disgrace.