The Golden Arches have joined the battle against single-use plastics by announcing a shift to paper straws starting in the UK and Ireland. The restaurant chain currently uses 1.8 million straws a day in the United Kingdom alone and this indicates a significant shift against plastic straws and single-use plastic in general.

McDonald’s can be added to a growing list of UK chains including Waitrose, Costa Coffee, Wagamama and Pizza Express who have taken proactive steps as the government works towards a national ban on plastic straws and cotton buds.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove called it a “significant contribution” to helping the environment, adding that it was “a fine example to other large businesses”. McDonald’s expects the plastic straws to be phased out in the UK by next year, with paper straw trials beginning in Australia soon.

Read the full story at BBC News.