Noodles & Company, a fast-casual brand serving globally-inspired noodle dishes made fresh to order, has partnered with Hoffmaster Group Inc., parent company of Aardvark, to replace plastic straws with paper straws in all its restaurants across the country by the end of this March.
"In the same way that we care about and nourish our team members, guests, and communities, we believe we have a responsibility to support our planet and contribute to making the future brighter for generations to come," said Stacey Pool, chief marketing officer at Noodles & Company, in a statement. "This transition allows us to move one step closer towards our commitment to creating a better world."
Noodles' new paper straws, supplied by Aardvark, are durable and can last over three hours without deteriorating in soft drinks or water, says the chain. The straws are certified BPI compostable, FDA approved, naturally degradable, and made in the U.S. This change will remove nearly 21,000 pounds of plastic from the company's waste stream annually.
Related: Retailers to Test Reusable Bag; Target Sets New Sustainability Goals.