BURGER King is removing all plastic toys from its children’s meals served in the UK from today to save an estimated 320 tonnes of waste annually.
The fast-food chain said the move was part of a wider commitment to reduce its use of plastic, and admitted it was “spurred on” by Southampton sisters Ella and Caitlin McEwan’s petition against the use of plastic toys in children’s meals.
The Change.org petition, calling on Burger King and McDonald’s to “think of the environment and stop giving plastic toys with their kids’ meals”, has attracted half-a-million signatures.
Burger King UK chief executive Alasdair Murdoch said: “We’re making a start. This is a step in the right direction.
“If it makes other competitors move their practices forward, that can only be a good thing.”
The chain is installing amnesty bins in every one of its restaurants across the UK where people can drop off any free plastic meal toys, including those given away with confectionery or within children’s magazines.
The plastic will be transformed into new play areas and restaurant items including interactive trays.
Fernando Machado, global chief marketing officer at Burger King, said the move was part of longer-term plans.
He explained: “Work is currently under way across all of our markets to look at how we can completely move away from non-biodegradable plastic toys by 2025.”
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