*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.
Aidan McClean, co-founder and CEO of UFODRIVE, joined Cheddar News to discuss how his company plans to shake up the car rental market with a digital experience. "There are no lines, there are no paperwork, there is no key collection ... no pushy insurance or pushy fuel options," he said. "You simply arrive for your electric car, use your smartphone and drive away."
Nearly half of Americans report having to side hustle to make ends meet, according to a survey from LendingTree. Jane Oates, president of WorkingNation, joined Cheddar News to discuss the state of play as families are having a difficult time with inflation and high-interest rates.
Melissa Armo, founder and owner of The Stock Swoosh, joined Cheddar News to discuss this week's markets which were little changed in trading as investors digested the latest corporate earnings results as concerns over a coming recession grow.
Peter Krull, a partner and director of sustainable investing at Prime Capital Investment Advisors company Earth Equity Advisors, joined Cheddar News to give some tips on green investments.
Investment in space was down 53% over the first three months of the year, according to a report from investment fund Space Capital. Chad Anderson, founder and managing partners of Space Capital, joined Cheddar News to discuss the funding downturn that's hit the lowest level in 14 quarters for the space industry.
The Week's Top Stories is a guided tour through the biggest market stories of the week, from winning stocks to brutal dips to the facts and forecasts generating buzz on Wall Street.
