Biodegradable packaging designed by University of the Arts graduate student, Andrew Millar

Have you ever eaten at a fast food restaurant and noticed how much trash comes with your burger, drink and fries? University of the Arts graduate student, Andrew Millar has noticed the amount of trash and has designed an alternative eco-solution to this wasteful problem. (Pics)





Between the paper bag, the burger paper wrap, the cup with the plastic top and straw, the napkins, the condiments leftovers and the French fry cartons there is a bunch of trash to dispose of. That is just from one meal. Now take into account how many people eat from McDonald’s daily and add up their trash with yours. That is a lot of trash ending up in the landfills. That doesn’t even include the energy used to make the packaging or the carbon footprint left from processing the food and so on.



The good news is that Andrew Millar has designed a biodegradable packaging idea for McDonald’s. The biodegradable packaging is made from pulped and grass paper, “which has naturally grease-resistant properties”. The cool thing about the packaging is that it folds out into a tray of sorts. Miller came up with the idea after observing how people use their fast food packaging. I’ve done that. I rarely eat at fast food restaurants, but when I do I use my bag as a plate/tray. Then when I’ve finished my meal I feel guilty about everything I end up throwing away in the trash and about what I put in my body.



If McDonald’s and Andrew Millar ever make a deal to use this packaging material it may relieve some of this guilt (probably not) and, if nothing else, provide another environmentally friendly alternative to a fast food restaurant already taking steps to go green, at least that’s what they say. According to the McDonald’s website, McDonald’s has been taking green steps for more than 30 year by doing such things as taking energy conservation measures using packaging made of recycled material etc.



Can you imagine the positive environmental impact that would come to light if all fast food chains took greener steps?

Via InventorSpot