McDonald’s, the company is aiming for renewable or recycled packaging by 2025. For the same, they have taken a decision for the removal of plastic lids from its McFlurry ice cream desserts. The change will come in restaurants from September, the fast-food giant said. This initiative will reduce plastic waste by 383 tonnes per year.
The company has also announced that this cut in plastic waste with lidless McFlurry is followed by the scrapping of existing single-use plastic bowls from all McDonald’s salads. The plastic bowls will get replaced from 100 percent renewable and recyclable cardboard containers.
It comes after Maccies decision of replacing 639 million plastic straws used annually in the UK from paper ones.
The change has angered customers, and many of them were complaining on Twitter that, the straws are ruining the drinks taste, especially milkshakes.
One Twitter user commented: “With the paper straws they are fine for a coke but the other day I had a milkshake and I struggled so so much that I ended up getting one of my own plastic straws at home.”
One customer tweeted:”@McDonaldsUK why don’t you use the same material that you use for the cups for the straws? That way you know it can last a while and doesn’t have a weird disgusting after taste.”
Supply Chain Director for McDonald’s, UK and Ireland, Beth Har, said that the removal of plastic lids from the McFlurry and the manufacturing of new cardboards packaging for salads will save approx. 500 tonnes of plastics per year. It will be the latest step towards their sustainability journey.
He continued saying that, they continue to look for solutions for cutlery and lids and it’s great progress. He added, for them, sustainability is more than just packaging. They have to look at the whole journey, and have committed by 2030 will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36%.