The fast-food giant McDonald's is considering reintroducing plastic toys in its popular Happy Meal in the UK and Ireland. Four years ago, McDonald's announced that it would reduce the use of plastic in such products by the end of 2025.

Photo: McDonald's

In 2021, McDonald's announced plans to reduce the amount of plastic used in Happy Meal toys by the end of the year and revealed that it was exploring alternatives, such as 3D cardboard toys or board games made from plant-based or recycled materials.

However, earlier this month, McDonald's acknowledged that while the aforementioned attempts have yielded some results, there are limitations to plastic alternative materials. The company is currently testing other materials. McDonald's stated that in cases where plastic remains the best option, it plans to explore usable types of plastic and establish partnerships when necessary to enhance the recyclability of plastic.

McDonald's currently uses two ISCC Plus-certified plastics in the UK and Ireland: one is mass balance plastic, part of which is made from bio-based materials such as used cooking oil; the other is green PE, a bio-based polyethylene partly made from sugarcane.

Given that both types of plastic are recyclable, McDonald's has collaborated with the environmental education center Wastebuster to launch the "Recycle to Read" program. This program encourages children to recycle or properly dispose of their small hard plastic toys once they become old or damaged.

Ben Fox, Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald's UK and Ireland, said, "The new scheme we are testing means we can continue to offer kids a great experience through a range of toys made from different recyclable materials, allowing them to enjoy these toys for longer."