Joining other big names in the war on single-use plastic, the house of Mickey Mouse, Disney has announced it will phase out plastic straws and drink stirrers over the next 12 months.

That may not sound remarkable, but Disney representatives have stated this will equate to a reduction of 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers used across Disney theme parks, hotels, and other venues. The company also stated alternatives to paper straws would be available upon request if guests have specific requirements due to disability.

In addition to straws and stirrers, Disney has stated intent to move away from plastic bags and toiletries among other single-use products while continuing recycling efforts where plastics are unavoidable.

“These new global efforts help reduce our environmental footprint and advance our long-term sustainability goals.” Said Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Consumer Products. In recent weeks we’ve seen corporates behemoths including McDonalds and Ikea taking significant action against single-use plastic waste so let’s hope this momentum continues.

SOURCE:  Forbes