VANCOUVER — A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. will eliminate all plastic straws from its restaurants by the end of this year — becoming the first quick-service restaurant chain in North America to make this commitment.
“Reducing waste from landfills is a top priority for A&W and this is one big way that we can make a difference,” says Susan Senecal, A&W Canada’s president and CEO. “We’re proud to make this change, which has been driven by the wishes of our guests, franchisees and staff.”
A&W will provide guests with the option of a paper straw, which are 100-per-cent biodegradable, compostable and sustainably sourced. They last two to three hours in a drink without breaking down, but naturally biodegrade in three to six months in the environment. This switch to paper will keep 82-million plastic straws out of landfills every year.
“Introducing packaging innovations that reduce waste is key to A&W’s environmental strategy,” says Tyler Pronyk, A&W Canada’s director of Distribution, Equipment & Packaging. “By using compostable packaging, real mugs, plates and cutlery, we are diverting millions of single-use packaging from landfills every year. Eliminating plastic straws is another big step for us. As we learn more about new tools and sustainable practices, we look forward to more improvements ahead.”
