USA – McDonald’s is phasing out plastic lids for its McFlurry cups in favor of more sustainable four-flap cups, aiming to reduce waste and move closer to its goal of sourcing 100% of primary guest packaging from renewable, recycled, or certified materials by 2025.
Alongside this packaging update, the fast-food giant has launched the Mini McFlurry, a smaller portion of the popular dessert, now available at participating U.S. locations.
The Mini McFlurry caters to customers who prefer smaller servings or like to share a bite with friends.
“Packaging updates like this are important,” says Michael Gonda, SVP and Chief Impact Officer of North America for McDonald’s.
“Not only is this a fun way for our U.S. fans to enjoy the McFlurry, but we’re also taking a step closer to fulfilling our packaging and waste commitments.”
The four-flap cups have already been introduced in several international markets, including Canada and Indonesia.
This move follows another significant sustainability effort in the fast-food sector. McDonald’s largest independent franchisee, Arcos Dorados Holdings, began using 100% biodegradable barrier compounds in its packaging, developed with Janus technology from J&J Green Paper.
Advancing recycling efforts
McDonald’s is also involved in broader sustainability initiatives. In May, the company joined The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, contributing a multi-million-dollar grant to improve polypropylene (PP) recycling.
The coalition is investing in advanced sorting technology and has awarded its 100th recycling facility grant to Recycling Works, a U.S.-based recycling program.
This initiative ensures PP, commonly found in packaging, stays out of landfills and reenters the supply chain as recycled material.
Since its founding in 2020, the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition has awarded $13 million in grants across 51 facilities, enabling 46 million Americans to gain new or improved access to PP recycling.
“These grants are making a significant impact,” says Brittany LaValley, VP of Material Advancement at The Recycling Partnership.
“Now, we can ensure that this valuable material reaches processors and finds new life in future products.”
Kendra Levine, Director of U.S. Sustainability at McDonald’s, emphasizes the company’s commitment to improving recycling access and enhancing infrastructure at material recovery facilities (MRFs).
“We’re dedicated to supporting our customers in recycling McDonald’s packaging products and working towards a more sustainable future,” she says.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE
