{"id":72796,"date":"2024-10-29T00:07:38","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T18:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=72796"},"modified":"2024-10-30T21:28:30","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T15:58:30","slug":"southwest-new-cups-stir-sticks-with-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/29\/southwest-new-cups-stir-sticks-with-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Southwest Airlines Introduces New Cups and Stir Sticks with Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DALLAS-<\/strong> Southwest Airlines (WN) <\/a>introduces bamboo cups for inflight cold beverages and wood stir sticks featuring the carrier’s iconic Heart branding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These new items support the airline’s commitment to eliminate single-use plastics from inflight service by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Southwest Airlines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Southwest New Cups and Sticks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Through these new initiatives, the airline expects to reduce its inflight single-use plastics by more than 1.5 million pounds<\/strong> annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southwest continues to explore new sourcing initiatives to address single-use plastic packaging across inflight operations as part of its Nonstop to Net Zero strategy, focusing on Circularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new cold cup consists of 93% non-plastic materials<\/strong>, using a pulp blend of 75% bamboo and 25% paper with a polyethylene (PE) lining. The U.S. Green Building Council recognizes bamboo as a “rapidly renewable material” due to its three-to-five-year maturity harvest cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southwest’s new stir stick uses 100% FSC-certified birch wood while maintaining the airline’s iconic Heart branding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July 2024, the airline transitioned to paper overwrap for napkins made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials, completely removing plastic from this service item. The overwrap uses FSC or PEFC-certified materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airline will soon introduce a new select-a-snack offering on Hawaii <\/a>flights. This change will decrease food waste and cut single-use plastic packaging by at least 18,000 pounds annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Southwest Airlines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sustainable Approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Southwest Airlines has comprehensively analyzed the sustainability and environmental impact of its inflight service items. The analysis revealed cups for cold beverages and stir sticks as the two largest sources of single-use plastics in their inflight service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout 2024, the airline developed and implemented an action plan to replace these items, following extensive testing among customers and employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our new bamboo cold cup, wood stir stick, and other initiatives will exceed our goal to reduce plastics from inflight service by 50% by weight by 2025<\/strong>,” said Helen Giles, Managing Director of Environmental Sustainability at Southwest Airlines. “We continue to collaborate with our suppliers to eliminate single-use plastics from inflight service by 2030.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The announcement marks a year of progress since Southwest launched its Nonstop to Net Zero strategy, focusing on reducing single-use plastics in inflight service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Southwest Airlines Adds 8 New Routes, 13 Redeye Flights and More<\/a><\/blockquote>