Lots of Companies are Saying No to the Straw

Every single day, more and more people are ditching their single-use plastic straws in an effort to lower the 500 million that are used daily in the US alone. It's on each of us to take a stand for the environment, just like a Girl Scout did when she convinced Alaska Airlines to go straw-free. 

Here are some more companies that have said no to the straw.

Starbucks

Starbucks and McDonald's have teamed up to create a more sustainable cup option as well. The fast food chain has also begun to try out alternative straw options, but no changes have officially been announced.

Alaska Airlines

Like I mentioned earlier, Shelby O'Neil, a 16-year-old high school student, convinced the company to become the first US airline to ditch the straw. Starting in July 2018, Alaska Airlines has promised to use alternative materials for straws and citrus packages (they used 22 million last year) in lounges and on flights.

American Airlines

Hyatt

The hotel chain is making plastic straws available upon request only, starting September 2018, in over 700 hotels worldwide. Hyatt will provide eco-friendly alternatives for guests to use. Along with that, not related to straws, the hotel also donates unused bath products to communities in need, giving us one more reason to love them!

Hilton

Hilton has also promised to get rid of straws in their 650 hotels by the end of the year. They will replace plastic straws with a biodegradable option that will be available upon request. Along with that, they've set a goal to cut their global environmental impact in half by 2030.

Royal Caribbean

For over a year, Royal Caribbean Cruises has only given guests straws if they request them, but by January 2019, they will be gone for good. On all 50 of their cruise ships, guests will be given a paper straw upon request instead, along with bamboo stirrers. They plan to tackle the issue of plastic packets, cups and bags by 2020.

Bacardi

IKEA

The furniture company has given itself an October 2018 deadline to remove all single-use plastic straws from its in-store restaurants. This announcement came along with a laundry list of other things that IKEA will be doing to make itself a more sustainable company by 2020.

Bon Appetit

HMSHost

Although you probably haven't heard of this company, you've probably eaten at one of their restaurants. HMSHost services 220 restaurants in airports and travel plazas all over the country. They've promised to be straw-free by 2020, which will eliminate over 100 million straws annually.

Live Nation & Goldenvoice

Live Nation, a concert promotion company, has announced that it will no longer be serving plastic straws with drinks at any of their 45 amphitheaters nationwide. Goldenvoice, the company behind famous music festivals Coachella and Stagecoach, has also joined the movement. This past spring, Coachella was the first music festival to be straw-free, with Stagecoach right behind it in April.

Cities, states and countries that have also banned the straw:

• Seattle, WA
  
• Malibu, CA
  
• Miami Beach, FL
  
• Fort Myers, FL
  
• Monmouth Beach, NJ
  
• New York City
  
• Hawaii
  
• Scotland
  
• Taiwan
  

It may seem like saying no to a measly little plastic straw may not do much to help the environment, but when millions of people are doing it, we can make a dent. Supporting companies like these ones, and ones in your local communities that have ditched the straw, is just one small way we can all do our part to change the world.