Disney has announced that they will be eliminating plastic straws as well as other environmental initiatives.
What Disney is Changing:
- Single-use plastic straws and plastic stirrers by mid-2019
- Transitioning in-room amenities (shampoo, etc) to refillables in hotels and cruise ships
- Reducing plastic shopping bags in parks and cruise ships by offering guests the option to purchase reusable bags at a nominal price
- Eliminate polystyrene cups across the business
What This Will Accomplish:
- Eliminate the use of 175 million straws and 10 million stirrers annually
- Reduce plastics in guest rooms by 80 percent
What They Are Saying:
- Bob Chapek, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Consumer Products: “Eliminating plastic straws and other plastic items are meaningful steps in our long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship.These new global efforts help reduce our environmental footprint, and advance our long-term sustainability goals.
- Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International: “Disney has always been inspired by nature – and it is a uniquely powerful brand that inspires, educates, and entertains, all at the same time. 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. It also builds on Disney’s longstanding commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship, a legacy that stretches from the highlands of Peru to the islands of the South Pacific.”
What Disney Has Already Accomplished:
- Reduced net greenhouse gas emissions by 41 percent
- Diverted nearly 50 percent of waste from landfills and incineration in 2017
Analysis:
- This move follows Disney stores elimination of plastic bags
- National Geographic, which Disney will own if the 21 Century Fox purchase goes through, has an initiative to eliminate plastic straws across the globe.
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