UNA Unilever PLC

By Chris Wack 
 

Ben & Jerry's, a unit of Unilever NV (UN), said Monday that it is moving away from single-use plastic.

The Vermont-based ice cream company said it would no longer offer plastic straws and spoons in any of its more than 600 shops worldwide in early 2019.

The company also announced a plan to address plastic cups and lids used to serve ice cream by the end of 2020.

Jenna Evans, Ben & Jerry's global sustainability manager, said Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops currently hand out 2.5 million plastic straws a year, and 30 million plastic spoons.

In August 2018, the company's Scoop Shops made plastic straws available by request only. By April 9, the company will complete the transition to wooden spoons. Paper straws will be available by request only.

"Over the past year, we have begun an intensive effort to find a biodegradable and compostable coating that meets our product quality requirements," Ms. Evans said.

Write to Chris Wack at chris.wack@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 28, 2019 09:59 ET (14:59 GMT)

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