Closing the Loop on Waste

Closing the loop on waste

We aim to create a circular system where our packaging and waste has a second life.

Our commitment and goals

By 2024 our customer packaging will be made from renewable, recycled or certified sources and designed to be recyclable or compostable

By 2027 give the waste* collected from our restaurants a second life by recycling, reusing or composting

By 2030 reduce the amount of material used across packaging in customer and kitchen areas in the McDonald’s system by 20% versus 2023**

We believe that the future of materials is circular and that we need to close the loop on waste. Our goal is to make sure that, by 2027, McDonald’s restaurant waste is given a second life so that nothing is truly wasted – instead it is recycled, reused or composted.

When it comes to our packaging we consider what it’s made of and what happens to it after it has protected our food. Our aim is that none of the materials we use in our packaging will be from finite resources. Our goal is for all our primary customer packaging to be recyclable or compostable by 2024.

We’re helping to bring packaging back to life again in fun and useful ways, such as sending paper cups to be recycled into paper bags and perfume boxes. We minimise food waste through our smart ordering and production systems, and where we do have extra food, we are donating it to our partner FareShare where possible, for people in need.

Reimagining packaging

We’re helping to keep waste out of nature by reducing our packaging and switching to more sustainable materials that can be recycled or composted.

Recyclable packaging

In 2022 we shifted 93% of our primary customer packaging in the UK, and 94% for Ireland, to renewable, recycled or certified sources. While we continue to innovate, we’re committed to ensuring the same high-quality packaging for our customers and now, 90% is either recyclable or compostable.

Paper-based cutlery

The biggest impact in 2022 was our switch to paper-based cutlery made from FSC certified paper – it’s light, resilient, and compostable or recyclable.

Recycled drinks lids

In 2024 we plan to increase the recycled content of our plastic drinks lids from 40% to 100%. We’re also continuing to explore commercially viable recyclable options to replace the plastic lining in our cups.

Removing plastic from hot drinks lids

In 2024 we plan to roll out new fibre-based lids, already used for Expresso drinks, to all hot drinks.

Plastic-free salad boxes

In addition to removing the plastic lids from our McFlurry® cups in 2022, we also introduced plastic-free salad boxes and breakfast platters.

Re-using ingredients waste

We are exploring pilots that use different waste streams such as bioplastic made from our used coffee beans and starch from potato waste for our wall graphics and adhesive.

Making it easy for customers to recycle

We provide recycling points for our paper cups in all our UK restaurants and are working with the National Cup Recycling Scheme to expand the national infrastructure for recycling cups in other locations such as shopping centres. We include clear recycling labelling on all packaging to help customers to recycle at home or in restaurants and are trialling new recycling units that will allow customers to easily separate paper, plastic, cups and food waste.

The people behind our Plan

“We know that the key to sustainability is collaboration. So, we’ve been working on innovative recycling solutions with McDonald’s to reduce and transform the waste from their restaurants and help speed up the transition to closing the loop on their materials.”

Tim Duret, Director of Sustainable Technology, Veolia (McDonald’s UK&I waste management partner)

Our partnerships with WRAP

Through WRAP we are partners of The Courtauld Commitment, the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap and The UK Plastics Pact.

Net zero standard restaurants

Developing Great Restaurants doesn’t stop with our commitments on waste. Our Plan for Change also includes goals to achieve net zero standard restaurants.

Find Out More

Graphic highlighting the 5 pillars of McDonald's Plan for Change.

Our long-term goals in full

See the details behind our Plan.

Find Out More

*Excludes car park and sanitary waste

**Annual reduction compared to 2023