McFlurry without plastic lids and plastic spoons - from 2020, McDonald's Germany will offer its dessert range in more sustainable packaging and expects to save around 1,000 tonnes of plastic per year. Plastic balloon holders are already being phased out this year.
Straws, cutlery and balloon holders made of plastic - these are the items that McDonald's will have to do away with in its restaurants in future according to the EU directive on the avoidance of single-use plastic. McDonald's Germany is going one step further and is pursuing its own roadmap to eliminate further plastic items and reduce packaging waste.
As early as next year, the packaging of the dessert range will be almost plastic-free. The plastic lid and plastic spoon will be removed from the very popular McFlurry from the changeover. The shakes and McSundae will also be served using more sustainable solutions.
„We are aware of our responsibility. That's why we have set ourselves the goal of gradually switching to more sustainable packaging solutions for various products where it makes sense for system catering. We are also pursuing our own global goal of ensuring that all our packaging materials only come from renewable, recycled or certified sources by 2025“
Holger Beeck, Chairman of the Board of McDonald's Germany
Live experiments were carried out in advance
The decision was preceded by a live experiment in which McDonald's Germany took on the challenge of doing away with packaging altogether or offering products in more sustainable packaging solutions for ten days. Guests were able to test these solutions in the „Better M Store“ in Berlin and provide feedback.
After the changeover, the shakes will be served in paper cups with an alternative solution to the plastic straw. While the cup solution presented performed well with guests in the test, the paper straw still needs to be improved before the changeover in 2020. The McFlurry spoon also still needs to be optimised. The wooden solution presented in the „Better M Store“ is still in need of improvement in the eyes of many guests. In total, the switch to more sustainable solutions in the dessert area will save around 1,000 tonnes of plastic per year (reference: 2018).
Nuggets in paper instead of cardboard
In addition to reducing plastic, McDonald's Germany is also focussing on a general reduction in packaging materials. This year, for example, the 4-piece nuggets will be offered in a paper bag instead of the previous paper box. The test of Recup, a deposit cup system for hot drinks, is also to be continuously expanded. McDonald's Germany will also be phasing out plastic balloon holders by the end of this year. This will be followed by the changeover of items that are to be banned under EU legislation from 2021 at the latest.
„The feedback from our guests and employees has encouraged us to continue on our chosen path. Not only in terms of the possibilities for changing our own processes, but also in terms of our guests“ willingness to do without plastic in one place or another. We are therefore all the more pleased that we are now able to tackle the first changes in a timely manner"
Heike Bierweiler, Director Supply Chain at McDonald's Germany
Source: McDonald's Germany
