## Southwest Airlines Takes a Big Step Toward Sustainability with New Bamboo Cups and Wood Stir Sticks
Southwest Airlines, known for its low fares and friendly service, is also making waves in the sustainability arena. The airline is taking a major step towards its goal of eliminating single-use plastics from inflight service by 2030, with the introduction of new bamboo cups and wood stir sticks for cold beverages.
These innovative replacements are designed to significantly reduce the airline’s environmental impact. Southwest estimates that the new cups and stir sticks will decrease its inflight single-use plastics by over 1.5 million pounds annually, a considerable feat considering the millions of passengers they serve.
The new bamboo cup is made from 93% non-plastic materials, boasting a pulp blend of 75% bamboo and 25% paper, with a polyethylene (PE) lining. Bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource, reaches maturity for harvest in just three to five years, making it a sustainable choice for this application.
The wood stir stick, crafted from 100% FSC-certified birch wood, maintains the iconic Southwest Heart branding, ensuring a familiar touch for passengers. The transition to paper overwraps for napkins made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials in July 2024, also signifies the airline’s dedication to minimizing plastic waste.
These initiatives are part of Southwest’s ‘Nonstop to Net Zero’ strategy, a comprehensive approach that emphasizes circularity. The airline’s commitment to circularity focuses on maximizing the value of resources by keeping products and materials in circulation, promoting reuse, recycling, and responsible end-of-life management.
The introduction of the new cups and stir sticks follows an extensive analysis of the environmental footprint of Southwest’s inflight service items. The airline identified cups for cold beverages and stir sticks as major contributors to single-use plastic waste and developed a detailed plan to replace them, including thorough testing with customers and employees.
A Milestone on the Path to Sustainability
Helen Giles, Managing Director of Environmental Sustainability at Southwest Airlines, stated, “We expect our new bamboo cold cup, wood stir stick, and other initiatives to exceed our goal to reduce plastics from inflight service by 50% by weight by 2025, and we’re excited to continue collaborating with our suppliers to work toward our goal of fully eliminating, where feasible, single-use plastics from inflight service by 2030.” She highlighted the dedication and hard work of teams across the airline in achieving these sustainability goals.
Southwest’s efforts demonstrate a commitment to responsible practices and environmental awareness. These innovative initiatives, paired with their larger ‘Nonstop to Net Zero’ strategy, showcase their dedication to a sustainable future for both the company and the planet.
