MC DONALD’S: NEW WASHABLE AND REUSABLE PACKS

After the launch of sneakers and the Happy Meal for adults, McDonald's latest news is the new washable and reusable packs, currently available in the French market. The design has been perfected to recall, in a more modern way, the iconic boxes used by the fast food chain. For example, ceramic cones have been designed by the brand for French fries, while maintaining their red and yellow colours. Drinks and ice cream cups will instead be served in glass containers decorated with the iconic "M" of the brand. Recyclable paper packaging will replace disposable boxes for hamburgers.

Although we might think that the company simply wants to work towards preserving the environment and limiting waste, the motivation behind this choice is quite different. In France, the use of mineral oils in paper and cardboard packaging and printing intended for the public, with a mass greater than 1%, was prohibited following the decree of April 13, 2022, which entered into force on January 1, 2023.

Even stricter bans will apply from January 1, 2025, to eliminate the substance. These oils contain substances that interfere with the recycling of waste and limit the use of recycled materials due to their suspected carcinogenic and mutagenic properties, and their influence on the hormonal system, which presents a risk to human health. The producers of packaging and newspapers are surely the most affected by this decree, but the users themselves will also see their habits changed.

Even before these crucial deadlines, McDonald's appears to have perfected its reusable tableware strategy. Surely, "two birds with one stone" have been killed because this approach also reduces waste, which is often present in contexts such as those of large fast food chains and is increasingly criticized by public opinion.