Travel Industry Phases Out Plastic

A slew of travel companies follow the European Union’s push to reduce single-use plastic items.

Among them, Alaska Airlines is the first U.S. airline to ban straws on flights, an initiative started in June. The airline said it used around 22 million plastic straws, stirring sticks and citrus picks that couldn’t be recycled. In their place, Alaska Airlines will use birch stir sticks and non-plastic straws, and will replace most of the juice boxes with recyclable aluminum cans. The airline collected around 12,000 tons of recyclable materials in the last eight years.

Ryanair works to be plastic-free by 2023, including at its offices, bases and operations.

“For customers on board, this will mean initiatives such as a switch to wooden cutlery, bio-degradable coffee cups, and the removal of plastics from our range of in-flight products,” they say.

Fiji Airways and Thai Airways also pledge to reduce plastic on their planes. London City Airport was the first in the world to ban plastic straws.

Delaware North, a food service company, will remove straws from its 200-plus dining locations at 23 airports across the United States. Hilton Hotels makes a similar move, as is Marriott International. Royal Caribbean is going plastic free, too.