Plastic straws are used once, then discarded. Many are destined for landfills, but others find their ways into streams, rivers, and eventually the ocean where they become choking hazards to marine animals and leach toxic chemicals that are harmful to humans.

To strengthen our contribution to environmental protection, all full-service restaurants in HKUST, including the Chinese restaurant, UC Bistro & Unibar, and Unique have joined a growing movement to eliminate the use of plastic drinking straws.

In addition, beginning this semester, all LG7 fast food outlets will be using paper straws (except specialty drinks) while Grab-n-go outlets, such as, Ebeneezer's and Subway, will no longer offer plastic straws. The Starbucks has also started to use the newly designed "strawless lids" for all the iced drinks (except Frappuccino). For the remaining outlets, for examples, the LG1 restaurant, LG5 McDonald's and restaurant at LSKBB, "No Straw Day" will be held on a weekly basis and catering staff will not take the initiative to give out any plastic straws.

We will keep on working in this direction with the ultimate goal of removing plastic straws from our campus, however, could not make great progress without your active participation. So, starting today, make a personal commitment to say "no" to plastic straws, Whenever ordering a drink, politely request "no straw, please.". Encourage your friends and family to take the pledge, too.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.