McDonald's packaging
McDonald's aims to use 100% renewable, recycled or certified packaging by 2025.
 

OAK BROOK, ILL. — McDonald’s Corp. has pledged to use more sustainable packaging in its restaurants around the world. By 2025, 100% of the company’s customer packaging will come from renewable, recycled or certified sources with a preference for Forest Stewardship Council certification. The company also has set a goal to recycle packaging in all of its restaurants by 2025.

This new commitment expands upon McDonald’s previously announced goal that by 2020, 100% of fiber-based packaging will come from recycled or certified sources where no deforestation occurs, the company said.

Francesca DeBiase, McDonald's
Francesca DeBiase, chief supply chain and sustainability officer at McDonald’s

“As the world’s largest restaurant company, we have a responsibility to use our scale for good to make changes that will have a meaningful impact across the globe,” said Francesca DeBiase, chief supply chain and sustainability officer at McDonald’s. “Our customers have told us that packaging waste is the top environmental issue they would like us to address. Our ambition is to make changes our customers want and to use less packaging, sourced responsibly and designed to be taken care of after use, working at and beyond our restaurants to increase recycling and help create cleaner communities.”

The company said it is working with industry experts, local governments and environmental groups to improve packaging and recycling practices. Currently, half of McDonald’s customer packaging comes from renewable, recycled or certified sources, and 64% of fiber-based packaging comes from certified or recycled sources. An estimated 10% of McDonald’s restaurants globally recycle customer packaging.

“We look forward to doing more and continuing to raise the bar on what it means to be a responsible company committed to people and the planet,” Ms. DeBiase said.