Aramark pledges to slash use of disposable plastic

Aramark has committed to cutting its use of disposable plastics by 2022, the foodservice vendor announced Tuesday.

The targets of its reduction efforts include straws, bags, stirrers and silverware. The company will begin cutting down on straws and stirrers in September 2018, with plans to slash its plastic straw use by 60% by 2020.

“By working hand in hand with our customers and consumers, we can make significant progress in limiting the consumption of single-use plastics, reducing waste before it happens, and creating a healthier planet,” Aramark CEO Eric Foss said in a statement.

Citing different needs among the various segments it operates in, Aramark aims to scrap straws and stirrers at its eateries in national parks, colleges and business and industry locations while reducing use of those items at healthcare operations, athletic facilities and K-12 schools by up to 60%.

Aramark’s announcement comes on the heels of a slew of operations and vendors making similar commitments to reducing their plastic use. Bon Appetit, for example, recently shared its plans to eliminate plastic straws at all 1,000 of its eateries by September 2019.  

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