Going a bit greener on Earth Day

Uber Eats is supporting restaurants and customers to reduce plastics use.

We all have a role to play in reducing the use of plastics. That’s why we’re celebrating Earth Day by partnering with select restaurants to help reduce single-use plastics like straws and utensils.

Research suggests that single-use plastics harm the environment by disrupting the productivity of natural systems like our oceans and clogging urban infrastructure. If current trends continue, one study estimates that by 2050 the plastic waste in the ocean will outweigh the fish.

The average person in the U.S. uses 38,000 or more straws between the ages of 5 and 65, or 1.6 straws per day.

At Uber Eats, we are excited to do our part to empower customers to make greener choices, and help restaurants achieve their sustainability goals. We are piloting different options for customers to choose whether or not they want to receive straws and/or utensils from restaurants. This initial pilot will cover select restaurants in the US and Canada (Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington DC.)

This pilot, alongside restaurant and customer feedback, will inform our future plans as we keep thinking about how to create a more sustainable delivery experience.