While its famous arches are at the corner of towns and cities across the globe, it is no surprise that McDonald’s holds the highest brand value of any quick-service chain in the world. However, with over 37,000 locations in more than 100 countries, the company is under public pressure to adopt a greener mindset. As time progresses it seems McDonald’s is realizing its global influence on the environment. At the forefront of the fast-food industry, McDonald’s is beginning to take a sustainable stance in its practices.

Going plastic free with its guest packaging

As the world’s largest restaurant chain, McDonald’s feeds over 68 million people daily. With this, there is no doubt that its sales generate an unsettling amount of waste. However, in efforts to minimize its environmental footprint, McDonald’s has taken on the task of going plastic-free.

Stated in a press release, McDonald’s made it a goal to make 100% of its guest packaging come from renewable, recycled, or certified material by 2025. With only 6 years left to reach this goal, it seems the company has a lot of work ahead of itself. However, test trials have already begun in Germany and Canada.

With the European Union placing a ban on many single-use plastic items in 2021, McDonald’s is still trying to learn how to comply with the new regulations. But, for 10 days, the company opened up a nearly-plastic free restaurant this past June. Although not perfect, the experiment ended with results that many seemed to be McLovin’.

Here are some of McDonald’s sustainable swap-outs during the trial:

Edible waffle cups replaced condiment sachets and containers.

Paper straws replaced plastic straws.

Wooden cutlery replaced plastic cutlery.

Sandwiches were wrapped in packaging made from grass, not paper.

Chicken McNuggets were served in paper bags, rather than cardboard boxes.

Since this test-run, McDonald’s opened up two additional green restaurants in Ontario and British Columbia. Reports have not yet been released on the Canadian consumer responses.

McDonald’s wants to save the bees

The plastic-free trial is not the only green project the fast-food giant has tackled.

In Sweden, McDonald’s has teamed up with NORD DDB and JCDecaux to take on a surprising task: making tiny hotels for bees. Across the country, the company is transforming the backs of billboards into bee sanctuaries. Placing six hives on the back of each advertisement, McDonald’s strives to provide the insects a home to nest.

As stated by NORD DBB, “30% of wild bees in the country are threatened, mainly because they do not have enough resting areas”. While bees are responsible for a large portion of our food production through pollination, McDonald’s initiative behind the project is “to give back to the creatures, from a food provider to another food provider”.

If the initial trials are successful, the partnering companies will expand their project in 2020 to create more ‘hotels’.

Conclusion

McDonald’s efforts to become more sustainable are admirable. Many are excited to see where its green mindset will take it. However, it seems as if many of the company’s initiatives are still in the early stages. And until McDonald’s fully creates a permanent environmental game plan, the public will just have to wait and see.