Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

McDonald's to scrap McFlurry lids and single use plastic salad bowls

Fast food giant says it aims to ensure all packaging comes from renewable or recycled sources by 2025

Colin Drury
Friday 21 June 2019 16:07 EDT
Comments
(Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

McDonald’s will remove plastic lids from its McFlurry ice cream desserts as part of a push to be more environmentally friendly, it has revealed.

The change will come into force across all UK restaurants from September, the fast food giant said.

The announcement comes as the chain prepares to remove single use plastic from its salads bowls as of next week, serving them instead in cardboard containers which are 50 per cent recycled.

Altogether, the two changes are expected to reduce plastic waste by 485 metric tonnes every year.

Beth Hart, supply chain director of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, said: “It’s the latest step in our sustainability journey."

She added: "We are committed to listening to our customers and finding solutions with our suppliers that work for them. This is the latest example of that – but by no means the end.”

The American chain has taken studied steps in recent years to boost its green credentials and position itself as an environmentally responsible company.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Just last year, it replaced the 8bn plastic straws used annually by UK customers with paper ones.

It has also committed to ensuring all its packaging comes from renewable or recycled sources by 2025 and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 36 per cent by 2030.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in