The Chicago White Sox announced Thursday that the organization would become the first MLB team to no longer provide plastic straws with drinks sold at their stadium in an effort to reduce plastic waste.
The team said that it was partnering with Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium to “reduce single-use plastic straws for the season.”
The new policy will go into effect on Earth Day. Those who want a straw for their drink will be given a biodegradable straw instead.
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The team is the first MLB organization and first Chicago sports team to implement such a policy.
The Shedd Aquarium has been leading a “Shedd the Straw” campaign ahead of Earth Day on Sunday, encouraging Chicago residents to stop using single-use plastic straws.
“As an advocate for wildlife, Shedd Aquarium has declared that Earth Day is the last straw for single-use plastics that threaten water health and environmental quality,” the aquarium said in a statement.
The aquarium quickly congratulated the White Sox on the new policy.
Banning plastic straws has recently grown in popularity. The United Kingdom announced this week that it would become the first country to ban plastic straws, and U.S. cities like Seattle have also implemented similar bans.