United Airlines said on Thursday it will eliminate non-recyclable plastic stirring sticks and cocktail picks on all its aircraft and replace them with environmentally-friendly alternatives made out of bamboo.
The Chicago-based carrier expects to start making the transition to bamboo in early November. The carrier called the move “a small but meaningful step to help minimize the impact plastic products have on our environment.”
United is the No. 1 passenger carrier serving Denver International Airport, according to a recent analysis by Denver Business Journal.
United has done the research and found that with 8.8 billion tons of plastic now polluting the world’s oceans, even something small like replacing plastic stirring sticks and cocktail pics can make a difference. The big problem with plastic, United noted, is that it can take up to 22 years to degrade — and even then it isn’t entirely gone, as plastic is not fully biodegradable.
United emphasized that the elimination of the plastic sticks and cocktail pics is expected to be just a first step in a larger sustainability initiative. The airline said it is “evaluating more sustainable options for our onboard catering operations beyond our current partnership with brands that are committed to sustainable practices like illy coffee." United serves illy coffee onboard planes and in United clubs and lounges.
Read more at the Denver Business Journal: https://bit.ly/2oXjzfk
