Eco-solutions: McDonald’s Ukraine implements plan to minimize plastic usage

McDonald's is removing plastic cutlery and will only partially use plastic drink lids. Instead, they are gradually switching to wooden utensils.

The company's press service reported this.

What is the problem?

Since plastic does not decompose, every year, about eight million tons of plastic waste enter the world's oceans, contaminating soils and ecosystems with microplastics, which contribute to the deterioration of the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.

The production volume of plastic waste is about 9 billion tons per year, which is increasing yearly. Less than 10% of them are processed.

What is the solution?

"With care for the environment, which is one of the company's key priorities, McDonald's in Ukraine reduces the use of plastic and other materials in favor of more ecological solutions and implements initiatives for the responsible use of resources," the message reads.

It is noted that in March 2024, McDonald's in Ukraine started several environmental initiatives simultaneously. In particular, the company abandoned plastic cutlery and gradually replaced it with wooden ones.

How does it work?

"Birch was chosen as an ecological raw material, which is a strong, natural, renewable material that does not have a pronounced wood taste, which is very important for preserving the original taste of food," McDonald's said, adding that the implementation of this initiative will make it possible to reduce the use of plastic by 40 tons annually.

In addition, as noted by the company, from March 2024, McDonald's in Ukraine will partially abandon plastic lids for cups to reduce plastic use by another 8.5 tons per year. After a successful test period in Lviv restaurants, the initiative has already been rolled out in all Ukrainian McDonald's stores. All drinks in glasses sold for consumption inside a McDonald's establishment, except for tea and hot beverages in the Happy Meal, are served without lids.

"At the same time, the company realizes that there are situations when lids are essential, so all courier and takeout orders are still served in closed glasses. Customers can always ask the establishment's employees for a lid if necessary," the press service said.

Another initiative McDonald's in Ukraine introduced in its restaurants is the refusal to use rubber gloves in the production area, which was introduced at the government's request during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the quarantine requirements are lifted, the company can reduce its rubber use by an average of 70 tons annually.

The company also plans to get rid of paper liners for trays. Yes, just giving up these paper liners can save 100 tons of paper annually. Currently, a pilot project is being implemented in McDonald's restaurants in Vinnytsia, which is receiving favorable reviews among the customers of the restaurants, and it will be scaled up to the whole country.

According to the company, McDonald's introduction of packaging sorting and recycling across Ukraine in 2021 is helping to create a circular economy and promote the practice of waste separation among Ukrainians. At the sorting facilities, different types of waste, such as paper, plastic, cups, and liquid, are sorted and then recycled, as many materials can be repurposed.

"For example, McDonald's bags for take-out and delivery orders are made from cardboard, polyethylene, and aluminum packaging elements sorted in restaurants, biofuel, and lubricants for the chemical industry are made from oil, garbage bags are made from plastic waste," the report says.

The company emphasized that McDonald's efforts are crucial to their worldwide dedication to responsible resource usage and waste reduction. They have committed to ultimately shifting to exclusively using packaging materials made from certified renewable sources and materials that can be reused by 2025.

It was previously reported that the turnover of the chain of McDonald's fast food restaurants in Ukraine increased to UAH 12.9 billion in 2023, and the profit reached UAH 1.2 billion, while the company ended 2022 with a loss of UAH 2 billion.

For reference:

McDonald's in Ukraine is a leader among fast-service restaurants. The first institution was opened on May 24, 1997 in Kyiv. Every year, McDonald's is included in the list of the 100 largest taxpayers in Ukraine and the list of the best employers. McDonald's in Ukraine is a founding partner and the largest corporate partner of the Ronald McDonald House Foundation in Ukraine.

As a reminder, from March 29, 2023, cheeseburgers, Big Macs, French fries, and other favorite dishes from McDonald's restaurants will be available to order in the Bolt Food application.

Rubryka also wrote that the American fast food restaurant company McDonald's Corp. has made minor changes to its burger recipes.

In addition, McDonald's launched the "Hand of Happiness" program to support Family Rooms at children's hospitals, where sick children can be close to their parents during treatment.