McD replaces plastic lids with fibre

McDonald's (McD) Finland and UK have replaced the plastic lids of beverages with lids made of fibre—aim to reduce 59,000 kg of plastic by the end of 2025. Fibre lids emit 85-90% less CO2 than plastic lids.

By 2026, all McDonald’s franchises in Finland will only use new fibre-based cold and hot drink lids. Olli Johansson, chief executive officer of McDonald’s Finland, stated that the company aims for all packaging to come from renewable, recycled, and certified materials.

Finnish packaging giant Huhtamäki Oyj will supply fibre lids with a patented click-fit function to ensure user-friendliness. The fibre lids are reportedly home-compostable and recyclable. What’s more, McDonald’s only uses recyclable materials for sales packaging in Finland.

Over the years, McDonald’s has phased out plastic milkshake cups, plastic McFlurry cups, salad boxes, and straws, replacing them with cardboard packaging as part of the firm’s 2030 pledge to “close the loop on waste”.

In the UK, a major tabloid reported that the switch from plastic lids to eco-friendly lids was not universally welcomed. Customers have taken to social media to complain about the structural integrity of the lids when they come into contact with hot beverages. McDonald’s responded by stating that it has introduced new moulded-fibre lids.