Alaska Airlines first US carrier to completely ban plastic straws

Wednesday, 22 May, 2018 0

Alaska Airlines plans to ditch single-use, non-recyclable, plastic stir straws in a new sustainability push.

Starting on July 16, 2018 the airline will replace them with sustainable alternatives on all flights and in airport lounges.

It marks part of its goal to reduce inflight waste going to landfills by 70% by 2020, the airline says.

It has teamed up on the initiative with ocean conservation nonprofit Lonely Whale.

Plastic straws will be replaced by compostable straws made from white birch and plastic citrus picks will be swapped with bamboo ones.

"Building on our grassroots, employee-led recycling program, we’re thrilled to take the next step to protecting our land and oceans by removing single-use non-recyclable plastic straws from our planes," said Jacqueline Drumheller, sustainability manager for Alaska Airlines.

The airline said it went through 22 million plastic stirring straws and citrus picks on flights and in lounges in 2017.

Alaska says it will become the first major US airline to completely eliminate plastic straws.

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