Red Lobster to Eliminate Plastic Straws by 2020

Red Lobster will be offering plastic straws only upon request and will begin to replace plastic straws with an eco-friendly alternative straw by the end of 2020. Image: Red Lobster Seafood Co.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Red Lobster announced today that it will begin offering plastic straws only upon request* starting in November and will begin to replace plastic straws with an eco-friendly alternative straw by the end of 2020. This commitment is expected to eliminate almost 150 million plastic straws per year from Red Lobster's more than 700 restaurants and expands the company's Seafood with Standards practices beyond sourcing traceable, sustainable and responsibly-sourced seafood to include efforts to support healthy oceans.

Also read, Recipe Unlimited Plans to Eliminate Plastic Straws From All of its Restaurants.

"We are proud to be the first large casual dining restaurant company to make a commitment to eliminate plastic straws from our restaurants," said Kim Lopdrup, CEO, Red Lobster. "This is a meaningful step in our long-standing commitment to protect and preserve the world's oceans and marine life. We hope our work helps raise awareness around the issue of plastic straws and encourages other businesses to make similar changes."

Red Lobster is currently sourcing and testing a variety of eco-friendly alternative straw products. The company plans to engage advocates for people with disabilities to help inform the selection of a new product.

"We have a diverse guest base, so it's important that we identify a straw product that accounts for that and meets a broad variety of guest needs," said Lopdrup.

Red Lobster has been committed to sustainability since opening in 1968. Today, as the largest seafood restaurant in the world, Red Lobster remains committed to creating and upholding seafood sourcing standards that ensure availability of seafood for generations. To learn more about Red Lobster's Seafood with Standards commitments, including details about sourcing and sustainability practices, visit www.RedLobster.com/SeafoodWithStandards.

*Straws only upon request applies to non-alcoholic beverages, including fountain beverages, teas, lemonades and waters.

SOURCE Red Lobster Seafood Co.