Delta Air Lines to Stop Offering Plastic Straws, Coffee Stirrers on Flights and in Lounges

Delta Air Lines is joining several other airlines in jettisoning plastic straws.

The airline announced Wednesday it hopes to start replacing plastic straws and drink stirrers on flights by mid-2019 with bamboo and birch stir sticks. It has already started the change in its airport lounges. 

United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines announced earlier this year they are taking similar environmental steps, CNBC reported.

Delta also said it is removing plastic wrap from the plastic utensils handed out with meals in coach class. It's also removing plastic wrap from the amenities kits given to international business class travelers.

The move to ditch plastics comes as concern grows over the harm single-use plastics cause to the environment, especially in the world's oceans.

A study from the World Economic Forum found that 9 million tons of plastic enter the oceans every year. It kills fish, birds and sea mammals. As the plastic degrades, it enters the food chain and could eventually be eaten by humans.

Airlines are joining other industries in dropping single-use plastics. Starbucks has announced it will remove single-use plastic straws and coffee stirrers from stores by 2020. By the middle of 2019, all Disney locations will operate without single-use straws and stirrers.