MCDONALD'S
Fast-food chain to end use of PS foam containers by end of 2018 / US shareholders raise environmental concerns / Two goals for recycled and recycling packaging by 2025
 McDonald's plans to eliminate its use of PS foam cups and trays by the end of 2018 (Photo: McDonald's) |
Burger restaurant chain McDonald's (Oak Brook, Illinois / USA; www.mcdonalds.com) has said it aims to phase out the use of polystyrene foam packaging by the end of 2018, as a shareholder pressure group called on the firm to investigate how the use of such material impacts the environment.
The fast-food chain, which said foam packaging comprised 2% of its packaging by weight, has come under repeated pressure from shareholder advocacy group As You Sow (Oakland, California / USA; www.asyousow.org). The group recently filed another shareholder resolution demanding the firm compile a report “assessing the environmental impacts of continued use of polystyrene foam-based food service ware.”
The resolution was supported by nearly a third of those McDonald's shareholders who voted recently. McDonald's said it would cease to use foam packaging by the end of 2018. Its actions on material use “represent successes that will continue to raise the bar for our system and our industry,” it added.
As You Sow said that while McDonald’s claimed its ambition was to source all of its food and packaging sustainably, “it continues to use harmful PS foam hot beverage cups in some overseas markets years after phasing them out in the United States.” In 2013, the advocacy group played a large part in pressuring McDonald's to phase out PS cups served across its 14,000 outlets in the US with paper-based cups (see Plasteurope.com of 22.10.2013).
Several US cities, including San Francisco (see Plasteurope.com of 05.07.2016) and New York (see Plasteurope.com of 13.01.2015), have banned the use of EPS containers in take-away restaurants.
McDonald’s announced goals to improve its packaging and reduce waste. By 2025, the company plans to have 100% of its guest packaging coming from renewable, recycled, or certified sources, with a preference for certification from US non-profit organisation Forest Stewardship Council (Minneapolis, Minnesota; www.us.fsc.org). Another 2025 goal is to recycle packaging in 100% of its restaurants. The company says these goals expand upon an existing one – that by 2020, 100% of fibre-based packaging will come from recycled or certified sources where no deforestation occurs. The company plans to work with industry experts, local governments and environmental associations to reach these targets.
The global fast-food chain says 50% of its packaging currently comes from renewable, recycled or certified sources and 64% of fibre-based packaging comes from certified or recycled sources. In addition, it estimates that 10% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are recycling customer packaging. McDonald's has more than 37,000 locations in over 100 countries.
The fast-food chain, which said foam packaging comprised 2% of its packaging by weight, has come under repeated pressure from shareholder advocacy group As You Sow (Oakland, California / USA; www.asyousow.org). The group recently filed another shareholder resolution demanding the firm compile a report “assessing the environmental impacts of continued use of polystyrene foam-based food service ware.”
The resolution was supported by nearly a third of those McDonald's shareholders who voted recently. McDonald's said it would cease to use foam packaging by the end of 2018. Its actions on material use “represent successes that will continue to raise the bar for our system and our industry,” it added.
As You Sow said that while McDonald’s claimed its ambition was to source all of its food and packaging sustainably, “it continues to use harmful PS foam hot beverage cups in some overseas markets years after phasing them out in the United States.” In 2013, the advocacy group played a large part in pressuring McDonald's to phase out PS cups served across its 14,000 outlets in the US with paper-based cups (see Plasteurope.com of 22.10.2013).
Several US cities, including San Francisco (see Plasteurope.com of 05.07.2016) and New York (see Plasteurope.com of 13.01.2015), have banned the use of EPS containers in take-away restaurants.
McDonald’s announced goals to improve its packaging and reduce waste. By 2025, the company plans to have 100% of its guest packaging coming from renewable, recycled, or certified sources, with a preference for certification from US non-profit organisation Forest Stewardship Council (Minneapolis, Minnesota; www.us.fsc.org). Another 2025 goal is to recycle packaging in 100% of its restaurants. The company says these goals expand upon an existing one – that by 2020, 100% of fibre-based packaging will come from recycled or certified sources where no deforestation occurs. The company plans to work with industry experts, local governments and environmental associations to reach these targets.
The global fast-food chain says 50% of its packaging currently comes from renewable, recycled or certified sources and 64% of fibre-based packaging comes from certified or recycled sources. In addition, it estimates that 10% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are recycling customer packaging. McDonald's has more than 37,000 locations in over 100 countries.
16.01.2018 Plasteurope.com [238787-0]
Published on 16.01.2018
German version of this article...