McDonald's to scrap McFlurry lids and single use plastic salad bowls

McDonald’s will remove plastic lids from its McFlurry ice cream desserts as part of a push to be more environmentally friendly, it has revealed.

The change will come into force across all UK restaurants from September, the fast food giant said.

The announcement comes as the chain prepares to remove single use plastic from its salads bowls as of next week, serving them instead in cardboard containers which are 50 per cent recycled.

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Altogether, the two changes are expected to reduce plastic waste by 485 metric tonnes every year.

Beth Hart, supply chain director of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, said: “It’s the latest step in our sustainability journey."

Shape Created with Sketch. UK news in pictures Show all 50 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. UK news in pictures 1/50 21 June 2019 The sun rises between the stones and over crowds at Stonehenge where people gather to celebrate the dawn of the longest day in the UK. The neolithic Wiltshire monument is built along the solstice alignment of the summer sunrise and the winter sunset. 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She added: "We are committed to listening to our customers and finding solutions with our suppliers that work for them. This is the latest example of that – but by no means the end.”

The American chain has taken studied steps in recent years to boost its green credentials and position itself as an environmentally responsible company.

Just last year, it replaced the 8bn plastic straws used annually by UK customers with paper ones.

It has also committed to ensuring all its packaging comes from renewable or recycled sources by 2025 and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 36 per cent by 2030.