SWEDISH FURNITURE GIANT Ikea has today announced it is removing all single-use plastic straws from its product range and restaurants from October.

The company says the move is part of its global commitment to remove all single-use plastic products by 2020.

Hege Sæbjørnsen, Ikea’s Country Sustainability Manager for Ireland and the UK, said:

“The world is changing at a rapid rate and bold, urgent actions are required to meet the sustainability challenges we are facing. Plastic pollution is one critical issue to urgently address for a more sustainable future and is something our customers and co-workers are actively passionate about.

“By responding and acting quickly to remove single-use plastic straws, we hope to fuel the energy behind this movement and empower people to see the hundreds of other small actions we can all take in our daily lives to have a positive impact on the precious world around us.”

Ikea currently offers products made from sustainable materials like jars and kitchen fronts and has committed to being a climate positive company by 2030.

The phasing out comes at a time of increasing conversation around plastics.

In May, the European Commission proposed that single-use plastics such as straws, cotton buds and cutlery be banned across the European Union (EU).

The Commission said that 500,000 tonnes of plastic waste from the EU end up in the sea every year.

Last month, McDonald’s announced it would get rid of plastic straws and replace them with paper ones from September.