The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to environmental protection began with Walt Disney himself going back over 60 years. Since then, the company has held up that commitment in many ways around the world.
The Walt Disney Company has announced that by mid-2019, they will remove single-use plastic straws and plastic stirrers “at all owned and operated locations across the globe, amounting to a reduction of more than 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers annually.”
Additionally, the company is making the transition to refillable in-room amenities in their Resort hotels and on their cruise ships which will reportedly reduce plastics in guest rooms by 80 percent.
The number of plastic shopping bags in Disney owned and operated parks and on cruise ships is astronomical and the company will begin to offer guests the choice of purchasing reusable bags at a nominal price. Lastly, they will continue their process of eliminating the polystyrene cups used globally in their owned and operated business.
“Eliminating plastic straws and other plastic items are meaningful steps in our long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Consumer Products. “These new global efforts help reduce our environmental footprint, and advance our long-term sustainability goals.”
“Disney has always been inspired by nature – and it is a uniquely powerful brand that inspires, educates, and entertains, all at the same time,” said Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International. “Today’s announcement is more than about reducing single-use plastic waste, it’s also about showing millions of kids and adults from around the world the many ways we can change our daily habits to care for the oceans and protect nature that sustains us all. It also builds on Disney’s longstanding commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship, a legacy that stretches from the highlands of Peru to the islands of the South Pacific.”
To learn more about Disney’s commitment to the environment, visit www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/environment.
Source: Disney Parks Blog
Senior Editor for the DIS and DCL Fan | Disney Vacation Club Member | Thrilled to have been a '13/'14 Disney Parks Moms Panelist (now planDisney) | Lover of all things Disney; the Magic of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line | ºoº
