A Scottish campaign group is leading a bid to get the coffee giant to develop a new straw that will satisfy the disabled

Disability campaigners have pressed a coffee giant over its plans to ban plastic straws.

Organisations representing over 500,000 disabled people in Europe and North America have thrown their weight behind a letter to Starbucks chief executive, Kevin Johnson, coordinated by Scottish disability rights organization One in Five.

In their letter, co-signed by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thomson and political representatives from every major UK political party, One in Five states that Starbucks’ intention to eliminate single-use plastic straws globally by 2020 has caused considerable anxiety and led to many disabled people feeling excluded by the world’s largest coffee chain.

The campaigners have challenged Starbucks to invest in the research and development of a new straw that will satisfy environmentalists and disabled people.

One in Five co-founder, Jamie Szymkowiak, said: "Our letter shows the strength of feeling from disabled people around the world.

“Starbucks must listen to its customers, including disabled people and environmentalists, and commit to investing in the research and development of a straw that doesn't harm the environment for future generations and ensures the needs of disabled people are met."

Louise Edge, senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK, also backed the letter.

She said: "The companies responsible for distributing masses of single-use plastic items have the resources to innovate products which are truly sustainable and fully fit for purpose - suitable for everyone including the disabled community.

"Straws and other throwaway plastic items, that can't be easily recycled, must be phased out and replaced with alternatives that don't harm pollute our oceans and are suitable for everyone. In the meantime, plastic straws should be easily available for those who need them."

The full letter is available on the One in Five website.