OUR PLANET

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Caring about the world we live in means thinking about the choices we make and the actions we can take. We’re on a journey to source 100% of McDonald’s primary guest packaging from renewable, recycled or certified sources by the end of 2025¹ and we’ve pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions globally by 2050.

Better choices for our planet—big and small. We’re helping serve up a better tomorrow so you can Love what’s next™.

We’re helping create an impact in the communities where we operate for the planet we share—so you can feel good when you choose McDonald’s. 

Even though you won’t notice any difference in your favourite order, we’re making important changes behind the scenes.

We know we have even more to do. But here are some of the steps we at McDonald’s Canada have taken so far:

  • In late 2021, McDonald’s Canada removed certain single-use plastics from restaurants, namely, plastic cutlery*, stir sticks and straws, eliminating approximately 700 tonnes of plastics from the Canadian system annually. Approximately 370 tonnes of that is from plastic straws alone.**
    • Following this transition, we gave a “second life” to a portion of our remaining single-use plastic straws through a partnership with The Rogerie, turning them into limited edition trays^, which served as a canvas for artwork. Learn more about The Last Straw.

  • In 2019, we eliminated more than 1,300 tonnes of paper from the Canadian system by introducing McWrap packaging, and 20% smaller, recycled-fibre napkins.†

  • Also in 2019, we stopped using extruded polystyrene foam in our gravy bowls and breakfast platters, removing more than 120 tonnes from the Canadian system.†

  • In May 2022 we completed a paper fibre reduction initiative for our McCafé hot cups. This reduction will eliminate nearly 700 tonnes of paper fibre from the Canadian system annually.††

  • Starting mid-July 2022 we encouraged our guests in Canada to bring their own clean, reusable travel mugs for use with their hot McCafé Premium Roast Coffee and Tea orders. This program is available for orders made at the front counter only (it is not available in the Drive-Thru, at the kiosk, with mobile app orders, or McDelivery) to help reduce use of single-use cups.

  • In October 2022, we began testing seven new Kenworth tractors in British Columbia through our supply chain distribution partner, Martin Brower of Canada Co, fueled by Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)^^ from FortisBC. The tractors will be tested to assess the feasibility of using them to deliver to restaurants in Canada where possible, helping the company reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

  • In April of 2022, McDonald’s Canada also began trialing the new Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 tractor for distribution to restaurants in the Montréal area to test the use of lower tailpipe greenhouse gas (GHG) emission vehicles in its supply chain fleet. The vehicle is also operated by Martin Brower. McDonald’s Canada has planned another Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trial in Brampton, Ont.

  

Serving Up a Better Tomorrow

The actions we’re working on today are an investment in our future. Here’s what we have planned:

We’re working towards our global pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

We’re committed to our global goal to source 100% of our primary guest packaging from renewable, recycled or certified sources by the end of 2025.¹ 

We’re working towards our global ambition to drastically reduce the virgin fossil-fuel based plastics used in Happy Meal toys and offer Happy Meal toys made from more renewable, recycled, or certified materials by the end of 2025.² 

All of this is part of our journey to drive positive change, and we are continually challenging ourselves to do more for the planet so you can Love what’s next™.

    

¹ Packaging: Scope: Inclusive of centrally managed guest packaging and Happy Meal book and toy packaging. Renewable sources refer to material that is composed of biomass from a living source and that can be continually replenished. Renewable applies to plastics only, not fibre. Source: ISO 14021:2016, for plastic, ASTM 6866 or ISO 16620-2. Recycled sources refer to material that has been reprocessed from recovered (reclaimed) material by means of a manufacturing process and made into a final product or into a component for incorporation into a product. Recycled material applies to plastics and fibre. Fibre-based packaging made from 100% recycled sources must be third-party verified, unless certified under a Chain of Custody forest management standard. Source: ISO 14021:2016. Third party verification means that an independent accredited organization has reviewed the manufacturing process of a product and has determined that the final product complies with standards for the attributed claim. Credible third parties include professional auditing and certification bodies. Certified sources refer to suppliers of primary fibre-based packaging to the McDonald’s System which comply with the Forest management and Chain of Custody certification requirements set out by one of the following schemes: Forest Stewardship Council™(FSC®); Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFCTM) or PEFC endorsed national systems including, for example, Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), CSA Group (Canada), and Cerflor (Brazil). McDonald’s requires all wood fibre sourced from Argentina, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, and Vietnam to be Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Certified or FSC Controlled Wood sources with full chain of custody certification. Primary fibre-based guest packaging refers to products that are used to package guest food on premises at McDonald’s restaurants. This type of packaging includes containers, cups, wraps, bags for food, beverages, napkins, folding cartons, clamshells, wraps, food service bags, napkins, salad bowls, Happy Meal cartons, drink carriers and cup carriers. Exclusions: Primary fibre-based packaging in food packaged off-site McDonald’s restaurants; wood stirrers and cutlery, tray liners, straws and limited locally sourced items.

2Toys: Scope: Inclusive of all toys. Fibre-based toys or fibre components in the toys: 100% certified fibre required. All other materials: McDonald’s ambition is to reduce the use of virgin fossil fuel based plastics, offer sustainable toys by the end of 2025 and not manufacture electronics and batteries in Happy Meal toys globally. For bio- and plant-based plastics to be considered sustainable for McDonald’s, a minimum of 60% of plastic weight is required to come from recycled or renewable content or a combination of recycled and renewable content, though in many practical applications we anticipate that percentage will be much higher. The remaining 40% may be conventional fossil-fuel based material. These thresholds were developed in conjunction with input from NGOs, external manufacturing partners, and scientists, and based on an assessment of sustainable toy and packaging industry leaders so that our targets reflected current sustainable engineering capabilities to maintain safety and functionality. Our efforts will result in an approximate 90% reduction in virgin fossil-fuel based plastic use against a 2018 baseline. Virgin fossil-fuel based plastics/Conventional/Traditional Plastic: plastics made from fossil fuel feedstock. Renewable sources refer to material that is composed of biomass from a living source and that can be continually replenished. Renewable applies to plastics only, not fibre. Source: ISO 14021:2016, for plastic, ASTM 6866 or ISO 16620-2. Recycled sources refer to material that has been reprocessed from recovered (reclaimed) material by means of a manufacturing process and made into a final product or into a component for incorporation into a product. Recycled material applies to plastics and fibre. Fibre-based packaging made from 100% recycled sources must be third-party verified, unless certified under a Chain of Custody forest management standard. Source: ISO 14021:2016. Certified sources refer to suppliers of primary fibre-based packaging and toys to the McDonald’s System which comply with the Forest management and Chain of Custody certification requirements set out by one of the following schemes: Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®); Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFCTM) or PEFC endorsed national systems including, for example, Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), CSA Group (Canada), and Cerflor (Brazil). McDonald’s requires all wood fibre sourced from Argentina, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, and Vietnam to be Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Certified or FSC Controlled Wood sources with full chain of custody certification. The thresholds described above do not include the presence of adhesives, glues, inks, paints and coatings.

*Excluding McFlurry spoons.

**Average based on 2018-2020 data.

^The upcycled trays resemble the trays guests see in McDonald’s restaurants, but are for display purposes only.

^^Renewable Natural Gas (as defined by FortisBC) is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create Renewable Natural Gas (also called biomethane).

†Based on 2019 data

††Average based on 2019-2021 data

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