NEW YORK >> Starbucks will eliminate plastic straws from all of its locations within two years, the coffee chain announced Monday, becoming the largest food and beverage company to do so as calls for businesses and cities to cut waste grow louder.

While the straws account for a small percentage of the pollution that ends up in the ocean, they’ve become a flashpoint because they’re seen as an easy way to reduce waste.

“There are several of these single-use items the public is realizing, hey, we don’t actually need these,” said Denise Hardesty, a scientist with Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation who studies plastic pollution.

A week after its hometown of Seattle banned plastic drinking straws and utensils, Starbucks said Monday that by 2020 it will use straws made from biodegradable materials such as paper and specially designed lids. The company already offers alternative straws in Seattle.

Straws often become trash because their small size makes them difficult to recycle. The push to ban the straws gained traction after a viral video in 2015 showed rescuers removing a straw from a sea turtle’s nose in graphic detail.

CONSUMER BORROWING UP $24 MILLION IN MAY

WASHINGTON >> Americans increased their borrowing in May at the fastest pace in a year and a half, boosted by a big increase in credit card borrowing.

Consumer debt rose $24.5 billion in May after an increase of $10 billion in April, the Federal Reserve reported Monday. It was the biggest monthly increase since a rise of $24.8 billion in November 2016.

The category that includes credit cards climbed $16.3 billion in May after increasing by $5 billion in April.

Consumer borrowing trends are closely monitored for clues they can provide about the willingness of consumers to borrow more to support their spending. Consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.

The overall economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, grew at a lackluster annual rate of 2.2 percent in the January-March quarter. But economists are forecasting a sizable rebound in the just-completed April-June quarter, based on reports that consumer spending has picked up again after a winter slowdown.

IPO RAISES DOUBTS ABOUT CHINA’S TECH BOOM

Xiaomi’s public debut was supposed to value the Chinese gadget-maker at $100 billion and set the stage for a global coming-out party for some of China’s most successful technology companies.

When Xiaomi finished its first day of trading Monday in Hong Kong, the company was worth only $48 billion, weakness that could hang over the rest of the Chinese tech players waiting to go public. China’s leaders are bracing for a bruising fight with the United States over trade.

The 1.2 percent slide at the close of trade — to $16.80 Hong Kong dollars from $17 — is the worst first-day performance for a $1 billion-plus Hong Kong IPO since 2015. In early trading today the stock had rebounded nearly 9 percent to $1.46.

ON THE MOVE

>> The Honolulu Zoo Society has named Marlee Breese its interim executive director. She previously worked as a research associate at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii. Breese also served as a curator at Sea Life Park for 20 years while being responsible for animal care and training.

>> HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union has promoted Boris Chen to commercial loan officer from commercial loan underwriter at the credit union’s Commercial Lending team. Prior to joining the the credit union, Chen worked for First Foundation Bank and Pacific Rim Bank as a commercial credit analyst.

>> The American Institute of Architects Hawaii chapter (AIA Honolulu) announced that Jacy L. Youn has been appointed its executive vice president. She has experience in communications, nonprofit management and law. Youn previously served as strategic alliances manager of OpTerra Energy Services and executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii’s Kauai Branch and has worked with various charitable organizations.