McDonald’s Canada to test new McFlurry® cup to help reduce single-use plastics

McDonald’s Canada is taking another step in its efforts to reduce single-use plastics from restaurants by testing a new McFlurry® cup with a flap folding lid. In a 7 week pilot project beginning November 21, 2023, guests at five Mississauga restaurants will receive their McFlurry in a paper cup with an integrated four-flap lid, while supplies last. The cup was redesigned to eliminate the plastic lid that’s been in use since the 1990s in Canada. The new cups require no changes to how the McFlurry is made while the top flaps fold down to protect the creamy soft serve dessert inside. 

While a seemingly small change, should the test be successful, eliminating the McFlurry plastic lid has the potential to eliminate approximately 75 metric tonnes of single-use plastics from the Canadian system if the new McFlurry cup is rolled out across Canada † . This test is the latest step McDonald's Canada is taking in supporting practical solutions to reduce single-use plastics from restaurants.  Earlier this year, the company began a national roll-out of a reusable McFlurry mixing spindle in restaurants, starting February 2023 in Montreal and extending to the rest of Canada by the end of the year. Guests will now receive a wooden spoon with their McFlurry instead of the traditional plastic spindle/spoon. In a similar effort to reduce single-use plastics and continue to work towards McDonald’s global goal to source 100% of its primary guest packaging¹ from renewable, recycled or certified sources by the end of 2025, in late 2021, McDonald’s Canada removed certain single-use plastics from restaurants, namely plastic cutlery (excluding the plastic McFlurry spindle/spoon), stir sticks and straws.

McDonald’s Canada remains committed to making changes big and small while keeping the planet top of mind, so guests in Canada can feel good about enjoying their favourite treats like the McFlurry.

Mississauga locations participating in the test include:

• 377 Burnhamthorpe Rd. East
• 30 Courtneypark Dr. East
• 1050 Dundas St. East
• 44 Bristol Rd. East
• 1500 Dundas St. East

 ^{¹Primary guest packaging refers to disposable products used to package guest food on premises at McDonald’s restaurants which is given to customers in all order channels, including containers, cups, clamshells, wraps, foodservice bags, napkins, folding cartons, salad bowls, lids, straws, napkins and cup carriers, and Happy Meal® book and toy packaging}

^{†Based on 2020-2022 numbers}