OAK BRIDGE, Ill. - McDonald??s Corp. recently confirmed that it is taking a major step toward a possible phase-out of polystyrene foam beverage cups. The company recently notified As You Sow, an advocacy group, of its intentions.
"McDonald's is currently testing a double-walled fiber hot cup, as the company continues to seek more environmentally sustainable solutions. The test is in approximately 2,000 restaurants in the United States, primarily on the West Coast. The objective of this test is to assess customer acceptance, operational impact and overall performance," said a statement from McDonald??s to As You Sow.
The shareholder proposal asked the company to assess the environmental impacts of different kinds of beverage containers and to develop packaging recycling goals.
"This is a great first step for McDonald's and we hope it will lead to a permanent switch to paper cups in all of its restaurants," said Conrad MacKerron, As You Sow senior program director, in a press release. "Given the company's history of using high levels of recycled content in other food packaging, we hope that it follows suit with its cups, and also establishes a robust recycling program for post-consumer waste left in its restaurants."
More than 20 years ago, McDonald??s started to phase out foam-based clamshell food containers amid concerns that petroleum-based food packaging persists in the environment for hundreds of years. By 2000, McDonald's had eliminated more than 300 million pounds of packaging and reduced restaurant waste by 30%, saving an estimated $6 million per year. However, the company continues to use billions of foam-based beverage cups.
"Our focus on McDonald's is part of a larger initiative asking all companies that put packaging on the market to take full responsibility for post-consumer collection and recycling through implementation of extended producer responsibility policies," said MacKerron.
Dunkin' Donuts, which also serves hot beverages in foam cups, announced last fall that it was considering alternatives. As You Sow will be approaching other competitors as well, including Yum! Brands, Tully's, and Peets, to ask them to recycle the cups left in their stores.