McDonald’s Testing Use Of Non-Plastic Products

One of the biggest fast-food chains in the world is making an impact through opting for straws with sustainable materials and replacing plastic.

The biggest problem with plastic pollution is that most items are single-use, leaving a bigger impact for a single use. Many are considering plastic bans to prevent this problem from progressing in the future, including McDonald’s.

McDonald’s will be testing replacing plastic straws for a paper alternative staring in the U.K. and Ireland. The service industry is seeing pressure in seeking sustainable alternatives for single-use items to cut waste.

Other fast-food restaurants are starting to use more sustainable options for their single-use products including Burger King, Pizza Express, JD Wetherspoon, and Wagamama. McDonald’s needs to seek an alternative because of their heavy straw use with 1.8 million straws a day in the U.K. alone.

McDonald’s says that not only will they provide a more sustainable option but will ensure that they will be using material from certified sustainable sources. This comes after the British government revealed their proposal to ban single-use plastic items from sale in England.

The government is determined to see success in this initiative and are relying on help with the restaurant industry to comply with using sustainable materials. The U.K. wanted to adapt with the ban of single-use plastic in the European Union, announced earlier this year.

All of these entities banning single-use plastic items took inspiration from others who supported the ban. They also serve as an example for others who need to consider using sustainable materials and help prevent further production of plastic.