In an environmental effort, Disney to eliminate plastic straws, reduce use of plastic bags

The Walt Disney Company announced today that by mid-2019, they will eliminate single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all owned and operated locations around the world, which will be a reduction of over 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers annually.

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This announcement comes after Starbucks announced its elimination of plastic straws globally by 2020.

In addition, the Company also announced that they will be transitioning to refillable in-room amenities in their hotels and aboard the cruise ships, to help reduce plastics in guest rooms by 80 percent.

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This chart shows Disney’s efforts to bring positive change to our environment, both past and present.

The use of plastic shopping bags used in the parks and on the cruise line will also be reduced, and guests will have the option to purchase reusable bags instead.

“Eliminating plastic straws and other plastic items are meaningful steps in our long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products. “These new global efforts help reduce our environmental footprint, and advance our long-term sustainability goals.”

The Walt Disney Company also said that work to eliminate polystyrene cups will be completed across their global owned and operated businesses. These are steps toward a larger environmental effort to reduce single-use plastics, and the park will continue to recycle and dispose of single-use waste that cannot be eliminated.

“Disney has always been inspired by nature – and it is a uniquely powerful brand that inspires, educates, and entertains, all at the same time,” said Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International. “Today’s announcement is more than about reducing single-use plastic waste, it’s also about showing millions of kids and adults from around the world the many ways we can change our daily habits to care for the oceans and protect nature that sustains us all.”

You can learn more about Disney’s sustainability goals and their long-term commitment to the environment by visiting TheWaltDisneyCompany.com/Environment.

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