A&W will remove plastic straws from all restaurants in Canada

FriskyCanuck · Jun 11, 2018

It's always nice to see a corporate movement towards practices that result in less waste.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...plastic-straws-from-all-restaurants-1.4698272

A&W restaurants in Canada will eliminate plastic straws from its locations by January 2019.

The burger shack will become the first fast-food chain in North America to eliminate plastic straws in favour of biodegradable paper straws, according to representatives from A&W Canada.

"We're on a waste reduction journey," said director of packaging Tyler Pronyk at an announcement on Friday. "By the end of the year, there will be no plastic straws in our restaurants."

Restaurants will begin making the transition in August. The chain, which has close to 1,000 locations, says it will fully phase out plastic straws by the end of 2018 and offer paper straws instead.

Officials say paper straws will last two to three hours in a drink without breaking down, and biodegrade in three to six months.

The move will prevent 82 million plastic straws from ending up in landfills every year, according to A&W Canada.

Food analysts suspect A&W's move could set off a chain reaction, igniting other major fast-food chains to follow suit.

"As we look at the movements to ban plastic straws ... it's only a matter of time before it happens here in the Canadian marketplace," said Robert Carter, a food service industry analyst with the Toronto-based NPD Group.

"This is part of the dialogue for most restaurants right now around the plastic straw issue," he added. "Operators who don't move to it or don't address the consumer needs and concerns — there might be a bit of a backlash."

Deleted member 1086 · Jun 11, 2018

saw that IKEA is doing this too, with all one time use plastics

perfectchaos007 · Jun 11, 2018

I'm a slow drinker so I guess I will be consuming some paper while I slowly sip my drink.

Just_a_Mouse · Jun 11, 2018

Good. This should be the law everywhere.

ahoyhoy · Jun 11, 2018

Ron Paul said:
I'm a slow drinker so I guess I will be consuming some paper while I slowly sip my drink.

They could just give you multiple straws I guess.

Using two paper straws is probably still better than using one plastic one.

Deleted member 12950 · Jun 11, 2018

This is not a good thing. Plastic straw bans are the environmental movement again getting obsessed with a symbolic gesture rather than the broad action that is needed.

Straws suck for pollution, but other items harmful too, say researchers

In terms of entanglement, a more significant concern is balloons, food containers, and bits of netting, the study said. The most significant risks for animals eating something are cigarette butts, food packaging, plastic bags, plastic cutlery, and plastic bottle caps.

For both categories, straws were considered an insignificant risk to the health of marine life.

There are also major accessibility concerns for disabled people that are being completely ignored:

For many with disabilities, plastic straws are essential - not frivolous

But well-meaning gestures can have unintended consequences, and this one is no exception.

People with a broad range of health conditions, from Down syndrome to dementia, from rare neuromuscular disorders to stroke impairments, rely heavily on straws – and bendy plastic straws in particular – to facilitate drinking.

For people with disabilities, straws are not frivolous; they are an accessibility issue as much as ramps are for users of mobility devices.

While most people take it for granted, getting a drink from your hand to your lips, and then tipping liquid in and swallowing requires a complex set of motions

sonofsamsonite · Jun 11, 2018

I can't drink a soda with ice without a straw. Tough on sensitive teeth. So I'm hoping the alternative works OK.

samthebreadman · Jun 11, 2018

I see no harm in this. Sure.

Cochese · Jun 11, 2018

They have paper straws at Ted's. You'll be fine.

Jebusman · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
This is not a good thing. Plastic straw bans are the environmental movement again getting obsessed with a symbolic gesture rather than the broad action that is needed.

Straws suck for pollution, but other items harmful too, say researchers

There are also major accessibility concerns for disabled people that are being completely ignored:

For many with disabilities, plastic straws are essential - not frivolous

1. A&W aren't getting rid of straws entirely, they're replacing them with paper straws that are biodegradable.

2. I fully expect people who absolutely require the use of a bendy plastic straw to have their own. Most places don't even offer bendy straws, A&W included.

These movements are less about stopping you from getting your own straws if you need them, and more about curbing the insane quantity of straws that get used and tossed on a daily basis.

American Eskimo · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
This is not a good thing. Plastic straw bans are the environmental movement again getting obsessed with a symbolic gesture rather than the broad action that is needed.

Straws suck for pollution, but other items harmful too, say researchers

There are also major accessibility concerns for disabled people that are being completely ignored:

For many with disabilities, plastic straws are essential - not frivolous

Lets not attempt anything until we solve all problems

prophetvx · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
This is not a good thing. Plastic straw bans are the environmental movement again getting obsessed with a symbolic gesture rather than the broad action that is needed.

Straws suck for pollution, but other items harmful too, say researchers

There are also major accessibility concerns for disabled people that are being completely ignored:

For many with disabilities, plastic straws are essential - not frivolous

How exactly is it a bad thing?

Wiping out straws is an easy win, it doesn't preclude us from tackling the other issues.

TheIlliterati · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
There are also major accessibility concerns for disabled people that are being completely ignored:

For many with disabilities, plastic straws are essential - not frivolous

I think they can manage to carry their own.

TinTuba47 · Jun 11, 2018

Further to this, Vancouver is in the process of banning ALL plastic straws, citywide.

I imagine A&W went with paper to accommodate this change (there's an A&W on every corner in this city it seems) and just said 'fuck it' and decided to make it a national thing. Probably easier

Deleted member 1086 · Jun 11, 2018

we should be doing something about various plastic drink containers, not just plastic soda and gatorade bottles, but things like the capri sun pouches as well. sure soda bottles are recyclable, but you see them discarded all the time. they seem like a much bigger issue than plastic straws. or even the plastic cups from fast food places, don't know that styrofoam is better(like chick fil a uses) but maybe more paper cups?

SRG01 · Jun 11, 2018

prophetvx said:
How exactly is it a bad thing?

Wiping out straws is an easy win, it doesn't preclude us from tackling the other issues.

Plus, it puts pressure on phasing out other plastic disposables, such as plastic lids, plastic bottles, plastic bags, etc.

PaddingtonDidntDoIt · Jun 11, 2018

Someone make wooden straws.

Sectorseven · Jun 11, 2018

Has paper straw technology improved in the past few decades? I remember them getting soggy real fast.

Deleted member 12950 · Jun 11, 2018

Jebusman said:
1. A&W aren't getting rid of straws entirely, they're replacing them with paper straws that are biodegradable.

2. I fully expect people who absolutely require the use of a bendy plastic straw to have their own. Most places don't even offer bendy straws, A&W included.

These movements are less about stopping you from getting your own straws if you need them, and more about curbing the insane quantity of straws that get used and tossed on a daily basis.

The alternatives to plastic straws all have their issues with use, for paper in particular it's they're terrible for hot drinks and for cold drinks they can become soggy and a choking hazard if you take too long to drink, which is a factor for a lot of disabled people.

prophetvx said:
How exactly is it a bad thing?

Wiping out straws is an easy win, it doesn't preclude us from tackling the other issues.

It's not an easy win if it has huge negative effects for very vulnerable people and has little material effect on the environment.

TheIlliterati said:
I think they can manage to carry their own.

A&W doesn't require people to bring their own cups to be able to drink. I assume they'll be continuing to use plastic lids (where an alternative there wouldn't have much in the way of accessibility issues).

whitehawk · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
This is not a good thing. Plastic straw bans are the environmental movement again getting obsessed with a symbolic gesture rather than the broad action that is needed.

Straws suck for pollution, but other items harmful too, say researchers

There are also major accessibility concerns for disabled people that are being completely ignored:

For many with disabilities, plastic straws are essential - not frivolous

Disability issue is null.

Bring your own reusable straws, or establishments can keep some paper straws for those that need them.

Septimus Prime · Jun 11, 2018

EA got rid of straws in our cafeteria a couple of weeks ago. I went to get one, and instead there was a sign saying how bad straws are for the environment.

I think the only single-use plastics we have left are the containers for noodles and sushi. Everything else uses the compostable bio-plastic or whatever.

patientzero · Jun 11, 2018

PaddingtonDidntDoIt said:
Someone make wooden straws.

https://www.amazon.com/BULUH-STRAWS...den+straws&dpPl=1&dpID=41bKLI1TUYL&ref=plSrch

TheDestructiveSquirrel · Jun 11, 2018

I hate paper straws but I'm ok with this

Deleted member 9035 · Jun 11, 2018

Just use macaroni, no need to reinvent the wheel.

Supa Necta · Jun 11, 2018

My workplace cafeteria started this and we chuckled as the meals are served in large plastic clamshell containers with as much plastic as 30 straws.

Kurdel · Jun 11, 2018

Great news!

prophetvx · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
It's not an easy win if it has huge negative effects for very vulnerable people and has little material effect on the environment.

Billions of them end up in landfill and the ocean. You posted an article saying straws suck for pollution, but we need to think bigger. Then argue that straws have little material effect so they aren't worth getting rid of.

Straws are a problem, they may not be the biggest problem, but they are an unnecessary item in many instances.

Deleted member 12950 · Jun 11, 2018

prophetvx said:
Billions of them end up in landfill and the ocean. You posted an article saying straws suck for pollution, but we need to think bigger. Then argue that straws have little material effect so they aren't worth getting rid of.

Straws are a problem, they may not be the biggest problem, but they are an unnecessary item in many instances.

The environmental professor who commented in that piece I linked to also said you can't ban items one-by-one to save the environment, you need to think on a bigger scale to solve the problem.

Plastic straws aren't necessary for most people, but they're an absolute necessity for a small group of vulnerable people.

DonShula · Jun 11, 2018

Cochese said:
They have paper straws at Ted's. You'll be fine.

They always end up a little soggy after a typical dinner. I can't imagine taking a drink to go with the same straw and making use of it for a couple hours after. Maybe there are paper straw advancements I'm not aware of.

____ · Jun 11, 2018

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is doing the same

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...longer-serves-guest-plastic-straws/684496002/

bryehn · Jun 11, 2018

sonofsamsonite said:
I can't drink a soda with ice without a straw. Tough on sensitive teeth. So I'm hoping the alternative works OK.

A&W doesn't put ice in their root beer ;)

Sanjuro · Jun 11, 2018

I got an iced coffee today. They switched from paper covered plastic straws to plastic covered plastic straws.

There is a war coming...

Gabbo · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
This is not a good thing. Plastic straw bans are the environmental movement again getting obsessed with a symbolic gesture rather than the broad action that is needed.

Straws suck for pollution, but other items harmful too, say researchers

There are also major accessibility concerns for disabled people that are being completely ignored:

For many with disabilities, plastic straws are essential - not frivolous

Don't miss a tree for the forest. This is a step, however small it may be, in the right direction.
Disabled people will survive without these straws one way or another, and now that it's been made public, consumers can be informed - the spokes guy is going to be out on this by the end of the month im sure. If it's that essential, the store will either have something or the person should have their own

lunarworks · Jun 11, 2018

bryehn said:
A&W doesn't put ice in their root beer ;)

I love those chilled mugs.

Deleted member 12950 · Jun 11, 2018

Gabbo said:
Don't miss a tree for the forest. This is a step, however small it may be, in the right direction.
Disabled people will survive without these straws one way or another, and now that it's been made public, consumers can be informed - the spokes guy is going to be out on this by the end of the month im sure. If it's that essential, the store will either have something or the person should have their own

When you get governments doing this like the City of Vancouver's straw ban this is saving a single tree in a forest while the rest of the trees continue to be harmed.

Here are the downsides of the alternatives:

Last year the City of Vancouver didn't ban balloons from only public parks after clowns lobbied against it, balloons which are not required by anybody for nourishment and more harmful to animal life, but now they've decided to ban plastic straws throughout the city even though Vancouver's "staff understand plastic straws are an important accessibility tool for people with disabilities."

Fixed · Jun 11, 2018

You keep harping on this straws for the disabled thing but you know they could bring they're own straws? A step is a step regardless if there's bigger fish to fry.

Sounds like you have a gripe with the municipality anyway, and this isn't about Vancouver...

prophetvx · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
The environmental professor who commented in that piece I linked to also said you can't ban items one-by-one to save the environment, you need to think on a bigger scale to solve the problem.

Plastic straws aren't necessary for most people, but they're an absolute necessity for a small group of vulnerable people.

So you advocate doing nothing until all problems are solved. Got it. Why are we even bothering with recycling? Why are we banning micro plastics?

Deleted member 12950 · Jun 11, 2018

Fixed said:
You keep harping on this straws for the disabled thing but you know they could bring they're own straws? A step is a step regardless if there's bigger fish to fry.

Sounds like you have a gripe with the municipality anyway, and this isn't about Vancouver...

They won't be able to do that when governments get wrapped up in the symbolism and ban them like Vancouver will starting in June 2019.

prophetvx said:
So you advocate doing nothing until all problems are solved. Got it. Why are we even bothering with recycling? Why are we banning micro plastics?

If you're only going to play whack-a-mole with plastic waste rather than do anything meaningful I'd start by banning stuff that isn't a necessity for some people to get nourishment.

OgTheEnigma · Jun 11, 2018

I had a paper/cardboard straw for the first time a few days ago (in the UK) with a milkshake. It was quite thick and firm to begin with. Annoyingly, the top became soggy and deformed in under 10 minutes, making sucking very difficult; flipping it only helped for a couple more sips.

Certainly outlawing plastic straws is great for the environment and I fully support it, but the paper alternative (at least the one I tried) was a disappointingly poor experience. Maybe other brands are better, although I think washable/reusable straws would be a much better long term solution.

PJV3 · Jun 11, 2018

You can get half decent silver straws for around a hundred quid, you will look the bees knees drinking a thick shake with one.

Wood Man · Jun 11, 2018

I actually prefer my fountain drink out of the cup without a straw. I like the cold ice on my warm lips.

Futureman · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
They won't be able to do that when governments get wrapped up in the symbolism and ban them like Vancouver will starting in June 2019.

You can't even order plastic straws from Amazon if you live in Vancouver?

Chopchop · Jun 11, 2018

That's pretty cool. I didn't even know paper straws were a thing.

American Eskimo · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
They won't be able to do that when governments get wrapped up in the symbolism and ban them like Vancouver will starting in June 2019.

Theyre banning single use.

What exactly is wrong with purchasing and reusing this kind of straw?

15435760_10153954527816556_988849355_n-e1481675715726.jpg

Not a choking hazard.
Not an injury risk
Positionable
Cheap
As temp safe as any other plastic.

djkimothy · Jun 11, 2018

I hope this catches on for the rest of the industry. However, how I hope they do keeps some straw in stock for those not physically able to drink directly from a cup.

Sean C. · Jun 11, 2018

Roke said:
They won't be able to do that when governments get wrapped up in the symbolism and ban them like Vancouver will starting in June 2019.

They aren't banning plastic straws, they're banning disposable ones. If a disabled person needs a plastic straw, they can buy a reusable one.

srhltmr · Jun 11, 2018

Bite the ends off. Straw.

(Used to do it in the movie theatre)

Deleted member 12950 · Jun 11, 2018

Sean C. said:
They aren't banning plastic straws, they're banning disposable ones. If a disabled person needs a plastic straw, they can buy a reusable one.

"whereas reusable plastic straws present hygiene concerns to people with specific health conditions."

You all need to take some time and listen to disabled people - I'm certain I would be with you thinking this is an unambiguously good thing if I hadn't happen to follow a couple vocal people on Twitter. While this costs me and I assume most people here pretty much nothing the costs that will be borne by a few vulnerable people will be big. That's not a just way for society to act.

Beduin · Jun 11, 2018

I think i understand Roke,
Since over 90% of ALL plastic waste that ends up in the ocean comes from 10 rivers, all located in Africa and Asia, it would make sense to spend 90% of all the reduce-plastics-money on those places.

Enzom21 · Jun 11, 2018

The Finalstraw folks are getting excited.

A&W will remove plastic straws from all restaurants in Canada

User requested account closure

It's Happening

User requested account closure

The one who likes mustard

User requested account closure

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account

User requested account closure

EA

User requested account closure

User requested account closure

User requested account closure

User Requested Ban

User requested account closure