Aramak to reduce all single-use plastic by 2022

The company outlined plans to phase out plastic straws and stirrers, offering eco-friendly alternatives, starting next month.

Educate consumers

It will also prioritise reduction of bags, cutlery and expand use of reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, take out containers and bags.

Frank Gleeson, region president, Northern Europe, Aramark, said the changes will be implemented across 19 countries, including the UK and Ireland.

It has already removed over 410,000 straws from UK sites and is will replace 418,000 straws from client locations in Ireland by December 2018.

“The world is changing at a rapid rate and urgent actions are required to meet the sustainability challenges we are facing,” ​said Gleeson.

“We want to promote best practice and by responding and acting quickly to remove plastic straws and containers from all of our restaurants, I believe we can make a difference in the use of unnecessary plastic and make the restaurant and hospitality industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly.”​

As part of its initiative, Aramark will partner with its suppliers and national brands to reduce packaging through design and innovation.

Continuous improvement

It plans to educate consumers on how to eliminate or reduce single-use plastics and it will report on its progress and challenges throughout the journey to ensure transparency and continuous improvement.

To date, the company has replaced approximately 5 million plastic lined coffee cups and soup containers with a fully compostable product.

It now plans to reduce the use of single-use plastics such as bags, forks, knives and promote use of reusable containers and bags.

“By working hand-in-hand with our customers, we can make significant progress in limiting the consumption of single-use plastics by reducing waste before it happens,” added ​Lawerence Shirazian, MD, Food Services Ireland. 

Aramark, based in Ireland, services suppliers of facilities management, food, property and energy and employs over 16,000 people across Northern Europe.