Ending Procurement and Forced Use of Paper Straws
Signed: February 10, 2025
Published: February 14, 2025
Document Number: 2025-02735
📋Summary
This executive order directs federal agencies to stop buying paper straws and to ensure paper straws are no longer provided in federal buildings, with the stated goal of ending the use of paper straws. It mainly affects executive branch departments and agencies, as well as contractors and other entities that do business with the federal government. It also tells agencies to remove any existing federal policies that were meant to discourage plastic straws, including policies tied to a prior sustainability order that has been revoked. Within 45 days, the White House domestic policy office must issue a national strategy outlining steps to eliminate anti-plastic-straw policies across the executive branch and address contract terms with entities (including states) that ban or penalize plastic straw purchase or use.
💼Business Impact
This order most directly affects **federal contractors and vendors** that supply foodservice items to agencies (cafeterias, concessions, vending, event caterers, commissaries) and **manufacturers/distributors of paper vs. plastic straws**; it may also ripple to **state/local partners** if future federal contract terms discourage straw bans. Expect **near-term procurement changes**: agencies will stop buying/providing paper straws and may revise sustainability clauses, so suppliers should be ready to **offer compliant plastic-straw SKUs**, update catalogs, and confirm contract language doesn’t require paper-only or penalize plastic. The 45‑day “National Strategy” could create **opportunities** for plastic-straw producers and distributors to win federal volume, while paper-straw suppliers should plan for **demand loss in federal channels** and pivot to non-federal markets or alternative products. Immediate actions: **audit current federal contracts and solicitations** for straw/material requirements, **engage contracting officers** about upcoming spec changes, and **adjust inventory and pricing** (including packaging/wrapping) to meet likely revised agency standards quickly.
Full Text
Executive Order 14208 of February 10, 2025
Ending Procurement and Forced Use of Paper Straws
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1 . Policy. An irrational campaign against plastic straws has resulted in major cities, States, and businesses banning the use or automatic inclusion of plastic straws with beverages. Plastic straws are often replaced by paper straws, which are nonfunctional, use chemicals that may carry risks to human health, are more expensive to produce than plastic straws, and often force users to use multiple straws. Additionally, paper straws sometimes come individually wrapped in plastic, undermining the environmental argument for their use.
It is therefore the policy of the United States to end the use of paper straws.
Sec. 2 . Purchases of Paper Straws by the Federal Government. (a) The heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall take all appropriate action to eliminate the procurement of paper straws and otherwise ensure that paper straws are no longer provided within agency buildings.
(b) Agencies shall take appropriate action to eliminate policies designed to disfavor plastic straws issued to further Executive Order 14057 of December 8, 2021 (Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability), which I revoked on January 20, 2025.
(c) Within 45 days of the date of this order, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, in coordination with relevant agencies, shall issue a National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws. This strategy shall address:
(i) The elimination of all policies within the executive branch designed to disfavor plastic straws;
(ii) Contract policies and terms with entities, including States, that ban or penalize plastic straw purchase or use; and
(iii) All other available tools to achieve the policy of this order nationwide.
Sec. 3 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
( printed page 9586)(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 10, 2025.