Fast food chains have revolutionised the way we eat. Order a quick meal, get it packed and finish it off in no time. However, this entire process generates a lot of waste material that is harmful for the environment and the planet too. Single-use plastic straws, small cardboard boxes and more are used to serve fast food to millions of people across the world. What if there was a way to save on this waste generation with a simple solution? Burger chain McDonald's has come with a reusable packaging for its customers in France. The picture was shared on Twitter and it has gone viral ever since. Take a look:
absolutely *loving* the design of this reusable packaging that's being introduced at mcdonalds france pic.twitter.com/kDSsNS5Xnz— juan (@juanbuis) November 19, 2022
Twitter user @juanbuis shared a picture of the reusable packaging from McDonald's France. "Absolutely loving the design of this reusable packaging that's being introduced at McDonald's France," he wrote in his tweet. In the click, we could see zero plastic or cardboard packaging in the meal. Rather, the cola drink was served in reusable plastic glasses. Even the French fries and potato wedges were put into a small plastic container that could be reused and did not have to be thrown away.
The tweet by the user has gone viral and received over 381k likes and 23k retweets. Several people loved the design and concept of the reusable packaging at McDonald's France, and the fact that it reduced waste at the fast food restaurant. "I'm stealing this," wrote one user while another said, "This is going to be way more environmentally impactful than just using cardboard!" Others felt that the reusable packaging would not be cleaned properly and may cause hygiene issues.
Take a look at the reactions:
POTATO WEDGES?!?!— Ellis in Dallas ✨ (@highdefgf) November 20, 2022
Very cool!— Klee 🦥 (@PterodactylEcho) November 20, 2022
turns out there's a reusable happy meal and... i'm obsessed pic.twitter.com/2HoQ1DBTPr— juan (@juanbuis) November 19, 2022
I wish they used glass or metal. Plastic breaks down over time. It breaks down faster when exposed to heat. The chemicals from the plastic absorb into food when it's hot. This is a beautiful design but a poor solution.— alex✡️pgh 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 (@coquesne) November 20, 2022
I'm sorry, but I'd hide these in my jacket and take them home with me so fast. No, it's not stealing. It's collecting art.— Brandon Eckroth (@brandoneckroth) November 19, 2022
Is net new plastic production a positive compared to 100% recyclable or compostable paper products? These things will also end up in the trash.— Cole Jurden (@jurdinho) November 19, 2022
(Also Read: Whoa! Man Finds 60-Year-Old McDonald's Meal While Renovating Home)
According to a report by News In France, a new law in the country will prohibit single-use tableware in fast food establishments. A McDonald's spokesperson said in the report that this reusable packaging will reduce the waste generated by the restaurant by up to 40%. "We experimented with several solutions, and we think we have found the one that works best with reusable tableware. But it remains to organize the deployment everywhere in France. We prefer to communicate nationally once it is operational," he said in the report.
What did you think of reusable packaging being used in McDonald's France? Do you feel a similar packaging can be adopted by other fast food restaurants as well? Tell us in the comments below.
About Aditi AhujaAditi loves talking to and meeting like-minded foodies (especially the kind who like veg momos). Plus points if you get her bad jokes and sitcom references, or if you recommend a new place to eat at.