It’s estimated that more than 500 million plastic straws are used per day in the U.S. and much of that waste ends up in the oceans causing harm to sea creatures. In an effort to reduce waste, a handful of big companies have announced plans to ban single-use plastic straws.
Restaurants
Starbucks (SBUX) Starbucks said that it will stop using plastic straws in its 28,000 stores by 2020. Instead, the company will use a strawless lid on most of its cold beverages, replacing the more than 1 billion green straws the company hands out each year. The lids are currently available in around 8,000 stores when customers order the Nitro Cold Brew topped with sweet cream. As part of the effort to move away from plastic straws, Starbucks’ iconic Frappuccino drinks will use a paper straw or one made from a sustainable material, the company said.
In May, Bon Appétit Management Company said it would ban plastic straws and stirrers companywide in its 1,000 cafés and restaurants in 33 states with the phase-out expected to be completed by September 2019.
Furniture giant IKEA said it would remove all single-use plastic from its in-store restaurants by 2020.
Hotels and Airlines
Also on Monday, Hyatt Hotels (H) said it would end single-use straws and drink picks and start offering eco-friendly alternatives. Hilton Hotels (HLT) plans to remove the 5 million plastic straws it hands out each year by the end of 2018.
Royal Caribbean (RCL) will be plastic-straw free on all of its cruise ships by 2019. The cruise line presently has a “straws upon request” policy.
On Tuesday, American Airlines (AAL) said it will remove plastic straws and stir sticks from its lounges and instead serve drinks with biodegradable straws and wooden stir sticks. In November, the airline will begin removing plastic straws and stir sticks from its flights and replace them with eco-friendly alternatives.
Last year, a 16-year-old Girl Scout Shelby O’Neill successfully convinced Alaska Airlines (ALK) to ditch 22 million single-use stir straws and citrus picks the airline uses each year for marine-friendly alternatives.
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