*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.
Air New Zealand is asking passengers to weigh themselves before boarding flights in an effort to ensure "the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft."
Jay Woods, chief global strategist with Freedom Capital Markets, joined Cheddar News to discuss what lies ahead as trading kicked off a holiday-shortened week and ahead of a House vote on the debt ceiling deal.
With home sales rising 4.1 percent in April from the month before and 11.8 percent from a year ago, the housing market is still hot. Kirsten Jordan, associate real estate broker for Douglas Elliman, has some tips to help savvy homebuyers get into the market
Microsoft President Brad Smith said on CBS 'Face the Nation' that the benefit of artificial intelligence will be "ubiquitous" but called for more regulations to make sure the technology is developed responsibly.
One company shaking up the startup space is Super.com, which aims to help everyday Americans save money and access credit. Hussein Fazal, CEO and co-founder, joins Cheddar News to break down how the product works.
