McDonald's Corp has said that it has nearly achieved its goal of sourcing all of its paper food packaging in restaurants from recycled or sustainable fibre.
Up From 2019
The Chicago-based global burger chain said in its annual sustainability report that in 2020 99.6% of the paper bags, food wrappers, napkins, cup carriers and other fibre-based materials it used to package meals for customers came from recycled or certified sustainable fibre sources, up from 92% in 2019.
Working To Reduce Environmental Harm
Many restaurant chains are working to reduce environmental harm from packaging, including using more recyclable or compostable materials and letting customers reuse cups or bowls.
Public Opinion
An Adweek-Harris Poll survey of US adults in April about single-use fast-food packaging found that 62% of respondents said that they would think more highly of a brand that switched to recyclable packaging, and 81% were concerned about litter and pollution from fast-food restaurants.
Ripple Effect
Because McDonald's has more than 39,000 restaurants globally, small changes can ripple into other companies and industries.
Larger Goal
McDonald's has set a larger goal for all of its customer packaging to come from renewable, recycled or certified sources by 2025. Currently, 80% of its packaging comes from such sources. It is also using paper straws and wooden cutlery in multiple markets, it said, and is exploring fibre lids and reusable cups.
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