American Airlines to stop using plastic straws

American Airlines announced Tuesday that it would stop serving drinks with single-use plastic straws and stirrers.

The airline said in a release that it will serve bamboo straws and stirrers with drinks, and will begin transitioning to “all eco-friendly flatware” in its lounges.

The airline said that it will begin to use eco-friendly alternatives in all of its airport lounges starting this month, and on planes later this year.

The company estimates that the move will eliminate more than 71,000 pounds of plastic annually.

{mosads}Jill Surdek, American Airlines’s vice president of flight service, said that the company is “excited and proud” to switch to green alternatives.

“We’re cognizant of our impact on the environment and we remain committed to doing our part to sustain the planet for future generations of travelers,” Surdek said.

American Airlines is the world’s largest airline, and one of the biggest companies to stop using plastic straws.

Earlier this week, Starbucks announced that it would phase out plastic straws in all of its  stores worldwide by 2020.

The movement to end the use of plastic straws has quickly gained traction among major companies, cities and even entire countries as a means to combat pollution and harm to marine life.