Plastic straws will be a thing of the past by March at Noodles & Co's 450 U.S. locations.

The chain has partnered with Hoffmaster Group Inc., the parent company of Aardvark, to replace plastic straws with paper straws, removing nearly 21,000 pounds of plastic from the restaurant's annual waste stream.

"In the same way that we care about and nourish our team members, guests, and communities, we believe we have a responsibility to support our planet and contribute to making the future brighter for generations to come," Stacey Pool, chief marketing officer at Noodles & Co, said in a company press release. "This transition allows us to move one step closer towards our commitment to creating a better world."

The paper straws, which are certified BPI compostable, FDA approved, naturally degradable, and made in the U.S, can last over three hours without deteriorating in soft drinks or water, according to the release.

"By switching from plastic straws to Aardvark Paper Straws, Noodles is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and helping address our planet's single-use plastic problem," Hoffmaster President Andy Romjue said in the release.

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