McDonald’s has just announced a major environmental initiative: The company is launching a pilot program to phase out polystyrene beverage cups (McD’s long ago gave up Styrofoam for its food packaging, but hot beverages have still been served in polystyrene).
The move comes in response to a 2011 shareholder resolution [PDF] by As You Sow, which asked the company to re-evaluate the use of foam cups. The company recently informed us it is testing replacement of polystyrene with a double-walled paper hot cup at approximately 2,000 of its restaurants in the U.S., primarily on the West Coast — that represents nearly 15 percent its U.S. restaurants.
The shareholder proposal received the support of nearly 30 percent of total company shares voted, a high result for an environmental issue proposal, and the highest vote to date for any As You Sow proposal on recycling.
The ongoing controversy about the environmental impacts of polystyrene led McDonald’s to phase out foam-based clamshell food containers amid concerns that petroleum-based food packaging that persists in the environment for hundreds of years after use.
Over the next decade, McDonald’s eliminated more than 300 million pounds of packaging and reduced restaurant waste by 30 percent, saving an estimated $6 million per year. It is now one of the largest purchasers of recycled paper, used in its food containers, bags, and napkins.
Source: GreenBiz
By Conrad MacKerron