Pernod Ricard has joined the no straw movement, with the New Year’s resolution to no longer use non-biodegradable plastic straws and stirrers in any part of its business.
The move to ban plastic straws was also taken by Bacardi in 2016, and Pernod said that it has also asked all its affiliates globally to ensure plastic straws and stirrers are not used at any Pernod Ricard events in the future.
In a statement Pernod Ricard said: “The drinks industry has been using them for decades and following the rebirth of cocktails there has been an explosion in their usage adorning glasses globally.
“A straw which is only used on average for 20 minutes can take more than 200 years to breakdown into smaller pieces and often does not fully disintegrate.”
Vanessa Wright, Pernod Ricard’s recently appointed Group VP Sustainability & Responsibility, added: “The history of Pernod Ricard and our values are intrinsically linked to social responsibility and care – it is a part of us, and the creation of the Paul Ricard Oceanography Institute more than 50 years is a concrete example.
“We know that this type of non-biodegradable plastic is having a detrimental impact on the environment and oceans, and for us it’s crucial that we play our role in helping to prevent any further damage.”
Previously Pernod Ricard has made major commitments to reducing its impact on the environment, with the group’s 2020 roadmap including a plan to reducing its waste to landfills with an ambitious goal: from 913 tons today to zero by 2020.