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Tag: straw

  • McDonald’s Starts Reducing Plastic

    McDonald’s Starts Reducing Plastic

    As part of McDonald’s initiative to use its scale to contribute to positive changes in the communities where it operates, Arcos Dorados – McDonald’s franchisee in Latin America and the Caribbean- will cease to offer plastic straws in its 2,100 restaurants across the region, from October 31. Straws will be provided only for those customers who expressly request them. For now, straws will still be available at the drive-thru.

    This step is part of a global assessment within McDonald’s to transition to packaging alternatives that are 100% renewable, recyclable or from certified sources towards 2025; to reduce its impact in the environment and take action on one of the most important challenges of society. This path aims to reduce plastic consumption and is the first move to more sustainable alternatives to plastic straws.

    The initiative has been tested in Latin American countries such as Colombia and Uruguay, and many other countries around the world. Arcos Dorados aims to avoid the consumption of close to 300 tons of plastic, based on the results of the test conducted in Colombia, where 6 out of 10 consumers preferred not to use the straw in their beverage.

    “We are looking for ways to use our scale to make a positive impact in society and the environment, as part of our ‘Scale for Good’ goals. The initiatives we have announced recently regarding our commitment to youth opportunities and employment, kid’s nutrition, sustainable packaging and actions to curb climate change; allow us to effectively contribute to the change of consumer’s habits and behaviors so we all can live in a better world” said Woods Staton, Executive Chairman of Arcos Dorados.

    McDonald’s goal is to recycle packaging used in 100% of its restaurants towards 2025, considering local infrastructure for recycling, legislation and consumer behavior in the different cities in which the brand operates; aiming to become part of the solution and to influence this critical change.

    Globally, the company has been creating awareness about the collection and recycling of its packaging at restaurants, and now is working on finding more sustainable alternatives to plastic straws. In fact, McDonald’s is currently testing different solutions to more sustainable packaging through tests in different countries.

    Recently, the Company announced a partnership with Starbucks and Closed Loop Partners, a group of investors in sustainable goods, to launch the “NextGen Cup Consortium and Challenge” with the goal promote innovation of the cups that are currently used in the industry, to make them completely recyclable and environmentally friendly”.

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  • McDonald’s takes action on plastic straws

    McDonald’s takes action on plastic straws

    Soon, diners will have to request a straw if they want one. And it might be paper.

    It is rare that we have happy news from the fast food sector, but McDonald’s has made a pleasing new promise to tackle plastic waste. It appears the company is taking a two-pronged approach.

    First, two test locations in London, England, will be phasing out plastic straws entirely. Starting in May this year, the straws in these two restaurants will be replaced by paper versions made with recycled content.

    Second, and arguably much more importantly, all 1,300 McDonald’s restaurants in the United Kingdom will start handing out straws only upon request. Paul Pomroy, head of McDonald’s UK, told:

    “Customers have told us that they don’t want to just be given a straw, they want to have to ask for one, because straws [are] one of those things that people feel passionately about, and rightly so. We’re now moving those straws behind the front counter, so if you come into McDonalds going forward, starting next month, you’re going to be asked if you want a straw.”

    It might seem like a minuscule change, but the act of having to ask for a straw will force people to think, even for just a few seconds, about whether or not they really need such a product, and that’s likely to make a dent in consumption.

    Pomroy also pointed out that the fast food chain has been working toward fully-recyclable packaging. So far it’s at 80 percent, and dealing with the straw issue will help address the remaining gap. No more foam or polystyrene boxes are handed out.

    That being said, I wish McDonald’s would rethink the contents of its Happy Meals and those infernal plastic toys that either break quickly or lack imagination and end up kicking around the house for years — or, as fellow writer Sami pointed out to me, the dreaded balloons. And what about the plastic sachets of condiments? We know those are an enormous source of waste in Asian countries, particularly, so surely there’s a better way to package them (or, rather, not package them). As I reported last fall:

    “The most common trash item found on the beach was sachets, the little plastic-and-aluminum packets that are widely used in poverty-stricken areas of the world (particularly Asia) to sell food items, condiments, personal care products and toiletries, even drinking water. The minimal packaging makes items cheaper, but sachets are not recyclable. “

    McDonald’s isn’t the only fast food chain trying to distance itself from single-use plastics. The co-founder of UK chain Leon was so horrified by trash on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia that he “vowed to come back and make a dramatic contribution to end this madness.” Grocery store Iceland has stopped selling straws, and Pizza Express and Wetherspoon have plans to phase them out.

    Wouldn’t it be wonderful for our grandchildren to grow up in a world where straws don’t exist? It’s starting to look like it might be that way.

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