Disney to eliminate plastic straws, hotel in-room plastics and plastic shopping bags

[cabanafrau]

Reducing and reusing pretty much always makes more sense.
Just pointing out that because we dump less pkastplin the ocean than done other countries doesn't mean we aren't overusing disposable plastics and damaging the environment too. The US has a pretty big impact

Absolutely the US has a big impact. The US has also been taking some steps to address pieces of the problem. Personally have been a proponent of either reusing or taking steps to make more environmentally friendly purchases and decisions for years now.

Perhaps when laying the lions' share of plastic overuse at the feet of Americans, maybe the way so many products are packaged in protective plastic clamshells for protective and aesthetic reasons for shipment from China to markets all over the world should be considered as a contributing factor?

 

[AustinTink]

What do you really expect other Disney-goers to be doing to your shampoo?

Not all people are upstanding individuals. I would not use open reusable shampoo in a hotel just like I wouldn't buy an open gallon of milk at the grocery store. People are gross.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Absolutely the US has a big impact. The US has also been taking some steps to address pieces of the problem. Personally have been a proponent of either reusing or taking steps to make more environmentally friendly purchases and decisions for years now.

Perhaps when laying the lions' share of plastic overuse at the feet of Americans, maybe the way so many products are packaged in protective plastic clamshells for protective and aesthetic reasons for shipment from China to markets all over the world should be considered as a contributing factor?

I was responding to the posted chart showing the US as 'only" 21st in terms of adding plastic to the ocean by a poster who seemed to think therefore the US doesn't really need to work on polluting less . The chart looks at only one small piece of the picture. I was not attempting to "lay the Lions share if plastic overuse at America's feet". I simply felt the pp was misguided to essentially absolve America for the same. Just about everywhere can and should do better.

 

[wvjules]

Good for them. I live in a county that has a bag tax, as well as work in DC which also has one. Plastic bags aren't eliminated though. You just have to pay $0.05 for them. At home when grocery shopping I do have reusable bags that I got a Trader Joe's a few years ago. They have held up pretty well. A few restaurants I've been to recently have gone to paper straws. I have extremely sensitive teeth so I need a straw...or lukewarm beverages. lol We will probably just start bring our own reusable straws just in case. No big deal, IMO.

It never even occurred to me that someone would tamper with the soap/shampoo dispensers at hotels. I also use the hotel glasses and coffee cups. I guess I don't worry too much about stuff like that.

I don't get the uproar about it. Why not reduce, reuse and recycle? Every little bit can make a difference.

 

[cabanafrau]

I was responding to the posted chart showing the US as 'only" 21st in terms of adding plastic to the ocean by a poster who seemed to think therefore the US doesn't really need to work on polluting less . The chart looks at only one small piece of the picture. I was not attempting to "lay the Lions share if plastic overuse at America's feet". I simply felt the pp was misguided to essentially absolve America for the same. Just about everywhere can and should do better.

I agree. Sorry, that comment wasn't directed at you, simply was the jumping off point for my first remark.

Every human is going to have to pitch into these efforts in some way to make a difference. It's a global issue. The US, like some other parts of the world, has worked on "pieces" of the problem. IMO at some point there will be issues that will compel humanity to address the issues more comprehensively, not simply on the basis of what's absolutely critical, or what's convenient, or what's a reasonably affordable or cost beneficial shiny piece of feel good PR.

 

[usnuzuloose]

They can try and save the planet, it is ok to a point, but sorry this wont help. I need a straw. And it is now a law for the straws, I will carry my own.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I fear we are falling victim to Greenwashing by Disney.

Disney is painting themselves as green without any real proof that their actions will actually benefit the environment in a positive manner.

My company recently made a big switch to only using commercially compostable plates and silverware in the onsite cafeteria. The only problem is what commercially compostable means. It does not mean that you can throw it in a landfill and it will perform any better then traditional plastic silverware. In fact once sealed into a landfill a commercially compostable fork and a traditional plastic fork both remain in their current state forever.

Something that is commercially compostable must be sent to a commercial composter to actually compost. It is a clearly defined process that takes months. My company just sends it to the dump.

I have a friend who is an engineer specializing in helping building owners reach different levels of LEED certification. He said none of the hundreds of owners he has worked with were at all concerned with helping the environment. They just wanted to make sure they got all the check marks needed for LEED certification, the more loopholes that could be used, the better. It is all about appearing to be environmentally friendly.

That must have been sad for you to write and I'm glad it's only hearsay. Most building owners I know are actually looking to make their immediate and further away environment better. Paying less for fossil and water resources also makes good business sense; win-win.

 

[Magpie]

I guess I missed the part where they said they would be providing paper straws - have they, is there a link somewhere that states that? If so, then that's not as bad, although do they offer lids or just open cups with paper straws? If there's lids and paper straws, not such a big deal, but if no lids... then basically back at square one with the inconvenience and the spills issue. Honestly, AK is by far the park we've spent the least amount of time in in the last decade, so I can't remember if there are lids, but I'm thinking no...how we've managed is that we spend maybe a half a day there e very other year, as opposed to multiple days every year at the other parks.

No, I haven't heard anything official about it, but it makes sense that they would, considering they already have paper straws in one park. The other option I could see would be providing waxed paper cups with sippy lids, but paper straws are simpler.

We only order water, so it's never been an issue, as water cups don't come with lids anyway. We do spend a lot of time in Animal Kingdom - gorgeous park! I've never had any issue using the straws in Animal Kingdom. They're very sturdy, and don't melt in your drink or anything. Never noticed any taste difference, either (but as I said, we mostly stick to water).

Most are white, but the ones you get in Starbucks are apparently green...

 

[TipsyTraveler]

These are the $5 and $10 bags I mentioned upthread compared to a standard reusable grocery bag. They’re far bigger, are of a heavier-duty material with a reinforced bottom, and can be snapped/zipped closed, so I didn’t feel the price was unreasonable. I would guess the price point of the smaller grocery-style bags would be a dollar or two, if they offer them. (Not that the Tokyo parks have any bearing on what they’ll choose to do in the US parks.)

At that point in our trip we had too many souvenirs and not enough places to pack them. Our options were to buy these two bags that were right in front of us at the parks, or go elsewhere looking to buy multiple duffel bags or another piece of luggage at higher expense. I couldn’t hand over my money fast enough.

 

[Magpie]

Not all people are upstanding individuals. I would not use open reusable shampoo in a hotel just like I wouldn't buy an open gallon of milk at the grocery store. People are gross.

That thought honestly had not occurred to me before now!

They had these refillable pump dispensers at Pop Century, when we were there last spring. I used them without any qualms. Honestly, I found them much more convenient than the little tiny bottles, which would collect on the sides of the tub and always get thrown away half-full because you can't get any more out of them.

I don't think I'll have a problem using them during our December trip, either. But, you did give me something to think about.

 

[Magpie]

Interesting article about the history of plastic straws:

"A Brief History of How Plastic Straws Took Over the World: It all started with a mint julep on a hot summer day."

http://www.nationalgeographic.com.a...f-how-plastic-straws-took-over-the-world.aspx

I had no idea we didn't even start using them until the 1960s!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

They can do what pretty much every German Christmas market does (Playmobil Funpark does the same).
Your beverage comes in a reusable container. When purchasing you are charged a deposit (here that ranges from 2-5 euro most places). When you're done, go up to any other stand, or the same one, turn it in and get the deposit back. It'll get washed and reused.
Easy peasy. Convient and far better for the environment.

I’d love to see how this would be received in th US... ...

 

[lifesavacation]

I applaud any company that tries to reduce their environmental impact. I live near Portland and we've had a plastic bag ban for several years. I think the city is moving towards a plastic straw ban or maybe they are already banned. I know the local colleges aren't using straws anymore. There are alternatives that have less impact on the environment.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I’d love to see how this would be received in th US... ...

It happens at many street fairs on this end and generally involves booze and oversized drink containers....

 

[kdonnel]

That must have been sad for you to write and I'm glad it's only hearsay. Most building owners I know are actually looking to make their immediate and further away environment better. Paying less for fossil and water resources also makes good business sense; win-win.

It is sad and true.

LEED certification is a joke with the majority of LEED certified buildings getting the needed check marks without following the spirit of LEED.

LEED is points based without any weighting. A building owner can earn points by doing something as simple as getting an article published that talks about how environmentally conscious they are and holding open houses.

LEED does not require the building owner to follow through on any of the promises and actually capture how the building is performing.

A fundamentally unsustainable building could still attain LEED certification.

For the most part, LEED has deteriorated into Greenwashing.

 

[NYCgrrl]

It is sad and true.

LEED certification is a joke with the majority of LEED certified buildings getting the needed check marks without following the spirit of LEED.

Maybe that's a region-specific problem that you've heard of secondhand?
Water and energy costs are some of the highest property expenses in the NE and nothing to sneeze at for most reputable property owners.

 

[VandVsmama]

Not all people are upstanding individuals. I would not use open reusable shampoo in a hotel just like I wouldn't buy an open gallon of milk at the grocery store. People are gross.

I agree. Way back in the day before we were married, DH had a roommate who thought it would be funny to put depilatory products in the shampoo. Thankfully, DH could tell from the smell that something was off. But I thought of that when WDW switched to bulk-sized containers for shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. At least at WDW, there's a lock over all of the containers so nobody can mess with it.

 

[PlainJane]

Something to consider with talk of glass bottles in the park vs. plastic in the parks is that Disney does not even allow guests to bring in glass containers (unless for a small child). I’m sure there are legal reasons for this.

Having the dishes and cutlery be reusable at CS would also be nice, but I’m sure theft and misuse are a concern.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

As a habitual straw user, the anti-straw movement irritates me. And yes, I know how damaging they are to the environment, and I have seen the horrifying pics of sea turtles with straws up their noses. I love turtles, have owned turtles since I was 8 years old, and I don't want to hurt them. But I sincerely hope that they will provide paper straws in all the parks because I can imagine how annoying it would be to have to clean reusable straws for an entire family every day while on vacation. I have some issues with my teeth and straws are a necessity for me, not to mention people with disabilities who rely on straws.

And I agree with others that communal soaps are gross. But I bring my own toiletries anyway so it won't bother me to have soap dispensers in the shower--unless they are growing mold in the nooks and crannies (which it seems is a common complaint in the hotels that already utilize the dispensers). Moldy dispensers could cause an asthma flare for me which would put a serious damper on the magic for me and my family. I took pictures of our moldy hotel room at Pop Century during our last trip, in case I had any issues with my asthma. I did have an asthma flare but I worked through it on my own without having to go for a treatment and I blamed it on our visit to Flower and Garden, which was an awesome experience but I will never do it again.

 

[brockash]

No, I haven't heard anything official about it, but it makes sense that they would, considering they already have paper straws in one park. The other option I could see would be providing waxed paper cups with sippy lids, but paper straws are simpler.

We only order water, so it's never been an issue, as water cups don't come with lids anyway. We do spend a lot of time in Animal Kingdom - gorgeous park! I've never had any issue using the straws in Animal Kingdom. They're very sturdy, and don't melt in your drink or anything. Never noticed any taste difference, either (but as I said, we mostly stick to water).

Most are white, but the ones you get in Starbucks are apparently green...

Something like that I guess is better than no lid. We were just at Disney in May and ordered A LOT of water and they always came with lids. Was it at AK that you ordered water and did not receive a lid? If so, that makes think it's more likely they won't be providing lids at the other parks either once they start this new phase.