packaging waste

“our customers have told us that packaging waste is the top environmental issue they would like us to address,” said francesca debiase, mcdonald’s sustainability officer, in a statement.”

mcdonald’s aims to get 100 percent of its packaging from recycled, renewable, or certified sources by 2025, with a preference for forest stewardship council certification, which ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests.

a 2014, company study of two restaurants, one focused on dine-in business and one centered on the drive-thru found the per-restaurant average was more than 2,200 pounds of waste a week.

mcdonald reminded us their sustainable packaging journey dates back to 25 years ago when they established a groundbreaking partnership with environmental defense fund (edf), a group not paid by the chain.

they not only phased out polystyrene sandwich boxes, but also significantly reduced their environmental impact by cutting solid waste and streamlining material choices. the initiative eliminated more than 300 million pounds of packaging, recycled 1 million tons of corrugated boxes and reduced waste by 30 percent in the decade following the partnership.

“other food companies have said for years that they want to use more recyclable material, but the mcdonald’s plan is more substantive and collaborative,” said erin simon, director of sustainability research and development for world wildlife fund.

last week, mcdonald’s said it would eliminate foam packaging from its global supply chain by the end of this year.