McDonald’s has announced plans to use more ‘durable materials’ – which will included plastic – so its Happy Meal toys will last longer and can be passed down to younger generations
McDonald’s has announced a major change to its iconic Happy Meal. The fast food chain removed plastic toys from its kids’ meal offering in 2021 and has instead opted for soft toys, sustainable paper-based toys, and books, as these can be more easily recycled.
But in a new update, Maccies has now announced plans to use more “durable materials” – which will included plastic – so its toys will last longer and can be passed down to younger generations to enjoy. McDonald’s says they will explore which types of plastics they can use, in order to carry on meeting its global sustainability goals.
This includes two types of ISCC Plus Certified (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification system) plastic, including Mass Balance plastic, where some of the plastic is made from used cooking oil, and Green PE, which is plastic made in part from sugar cane. Some toys will continue to be made with paper.
Ben Fox, chief marketing officer for McDonald’s UK & Ireland told Metro: “Our iconic Happy Meal has been creating fun family moments for decades and that familiar feeling of excitement when kids open the box to discover which book or toy it contains.
“The new approach we’re testing means that we can keep delivering that great experience through a range of toys made with different recyclable materials that children can enjoy playing with for longer.”
It comes after McDonald’s launched its Shamrock Shake milkshake in UK restaurants for the first time last week. The Shamrock Shake is a peppermint-flavoured milkshake that is green in colour. It is usually only sold in the US and Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. You’ll need to be quick though, as it is only available for just two weeks, so until March 25.
A small Shamrock Shake will cost you £2.19, while a medium drink is £2.69 and a large is £3.09. McDonald’s said it will also donate 20p from each sale of the drink to the Ronald McDonald House Charity. This provides free “home away from home” accommodation to families with children in hospital.
There are other limited edition items that are still available at Maccies. Mozzarella Dippers, which are sticks of mozzarella cheese coated in breadcrumbs and served with a salsa dip, and the Mars McFlurry, which is soft dairy ice cream swirled with crunchy chocolate-covered nougat pieces and topped with caramel sauce, are both available until March 25.
McDonald’s is also still serving its Philly Cheese Stack, which features two beef patties with a cheese sauce, cheese slices, grilled and crispy onions and pickles served in a toasted bun, its McCrispy BBQ Smokehouse, made with chicken breast fillet in a crunchy coating with a smoky BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, red onion, and lettuce, and its Raspberry and White Chocolate Pie, featuring a pink pastry filled with a white chocolate ganache and raspberry compote, until May 6.
You can also still buy the Katsu Chicken One wrap, which includes your choice of crispy or grilled chicken, coated in katsu sauce, packed with crispy onions, cucumber, and lettuce in a toasted tortilla, until June 17.
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