Southwest Opts for Bamboo Cups to Reduce Single-Use Plastics

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has announced it will forgo disposable plastic cups and stir sticks onboard its flights in favor of more sustainable bamboo and wood alternatives. 

The carrier said Monday that the new items are part of Southwest’s ongoing initiatives to eliminate single-use plastics from inflight service by 2030. 

Southwest Removes 2 Single-Use Plastic Items from Inflight Service

Throughout 2024, Southwest identified cups for cold beverages and stir sticks as two of the largest sources of single-use plastics for inflight service. 

As such, Southwest will begin serving beverages in the new bamboo cups and will provide passengers with a specially designed, Southwest Heart-branded wooden stir stick.

The airline expects the new items to “reduce its inflight single-use plastics by more than 1.5 million pounds annually” as part of its Nonstop to Net Zero by 2050 strategy. 

According to Southwest, the new cup is made from 93% non-plastic materials, with a pulp blend of 75% bamboo and 25% paper. 

However, the bamboo cup does not eliminate single-use plastics. The new cup will still contain a polyethylene (plastic) lining to prevent the paper cup from disintegrating when used for cold beverages and alcohol.

Southwest settled on bamboo for its cups partly because the U.S. Green Building Council considers bamboo a “rapidly renewable material.” This means the bamboo plant is ready for harvest after only 3 to 5 years, significantly less than the 10 to 40 years minimum for other trees. 

In addition to a new beverage cup, Southwest is introducing a new stir stick for cocktails and hot beverages like coffee and tea. The stir stick is made from 100% FSC-certified birch wood, certified as a sustainably sourced product. 

Both new inflight service items were robustly tested among customers and employees before being widely introduced to paying passengers. Speaking on the decision, Southwest Managing Director of Environmental Sustainability Helen Giles said:

“We expect our new bamboo cold cup, wood stir stick, and other initiatives to exceed our goal to reduce plastics from inflight service by 50% by weight by 2024, and we’re excited to continue collaborating with our suppliers to work toward our goal of fully eliminating, where feasible, single-use plastics from inflight service by 2030.”

Newest Addition to Southwest’s Nonstop to Net Zero Strategy

Southwest’s announcement to switch to bamboo cups and wooden birch sticks is the latest in a series of eco-conscious initiatives, all part of the carrier’s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In July 2024, Southwest introduced a new paper wrap made from 100% recycled materials for its napkin packs. Like the new stir sticks, the overwrap is made from certified sustainable materials and eliminates plastic from the napkins. 

Looking to the future, Southwest will introduce a new ‘select-a-snack’ offering on flights to and from Hawaii in the coming months. The airline anticipates this change will decrease food waste and reduce single-use plastic packaging by 18,000 pounds annually. 

“It’s been a year of work since we announced our Nonstop to Net Zero strategy, including our initiatives to tackle single-use plastics in our inflight service,” Giles remarked. 

“Today’s announcement celebrates the hard work and dedication of many Teams across Southwest to meet these goals.”