*By Justin Chermol*
Starbucks announced plans on Monday to elimate the use of plastic straws by 2020, making it the largest company yet to undertake the green initiative.
The coffee chain will transition to new lids which feature a raised lip to drink from, a design already being used for some of the company’s cold brew drinks. The new lids will begin rolling out this fall in Canada as well as in Starbucks’ home city of Seattle. For those customers who insist on straws, the company will offer eco-friendly versions made of paper or compostable plastic.
Starbucks stated this policy will cut the number of plastic straws used by one billion per year -- the proliferation of them has contributed to devastating ocean pollution and threatens marine life.
Local governments across the United States initially spearheaded the plastic-strawless movement. Just last week Seattle banned both plastic straws and utensils. Some of America’s largest cities like New York and San Francisco have proposed plans to remove plastic straws as well.
Global stock markets followed Wall Street lower Monday after the top U.S. diplomat met China's leader but the two sides gave no sign of progress on an array of conflicts.
Supergoop! is a skincare brand whose products are what the company says is 100% dedicated to sun care. Amanda Baldwin, CEO of Supergoop!, joined Cheddar News to discuss why sunscreen is important to add to daily routines. "What I love about this company is ... it really is based on scientific fact," Baldwin said. "90% of the signs of aging comes from the sun ... one in five of us will be diagnosed with skin cancer in our lifetime so making sunscreen a daily habit is probably one of the most simple things you can do for your health."
College enrollment rates for high school graduates in the U.S. has been on the decline since 2009. Sean Behr, CEO of Fountain a high-volume hiring platform, joined Cheddar News to discuss why high school graduates are benefitting from the value of attending a trade school, especially in today's economy.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how people work, including in creative industries. The famous Tribeca Film Festival featured some projects recently that used A.I. that some filmmakers say make it more creative. Cheddar News took a peek at some of those films.
