McDonald's to reduce the amount of plastic in Happy Meal toys by the end of 2025

McDonald's Corp unveiled their goal of making every toy in each and every Happy Meal sold across the world more sustainable by the end of 2025.

We are dramatically decreasing the amount of plastic in toys while still providing all of the games, action heroes, and collectibles that continue to ignite children's imaginations and enjoyment of play, the company said. 

Making the toys from renewable, recyclable, or certified materials will result in a 90 percent decrease of fossil fuel-based plastic in Happy Meal toys compared to a 2018 baseline.

The shift to more environmentally friendly Happy Meal toys is well advanced in nations such as the United Kingdom and Ireland and is complete in France. Efforts throughout the world, including these, have already led to a 30% decrease in virgin fossil fuel-based plastic consumption since 2018, according to the fast-food chain. 

Instead of plastic figurines, youngsters will receive 3-D paper-based toys that they can assemble themselves. Some paper-based toys, such as Pokémon trading cards, are already available in the United States. More alternatives, such as board games with typical plastic parts changed out and various sorts of toys will be available in US Happy Meals beginning in January, CNN reported. 

“With this transition for our toys, we’re working closely with suppliers, families, and play experts and engineers to introduce more sustainable, innovative designs and help drive demand for recycled materials, to keep McDonald’s communities and beyond smiling for generations to come,” said Jenny McColloch, McDonald’s Chief Sustainability Officer, in a statement. 

Since its introduction in 1979, the Happy Meal has seen several menus, ingredient, and toy improvements. Today's news marks our beloved toys' first worldwide environmental sustainability milestone.

The transition to more sustainable Happy Meal toys is the latest move in McDonald's efforts to keep trash out of the environment, protect forests and ecosystems, and promote climate action.

Notably, McDonald's is the first worldwide restaurant corporation to establish a science-based goal for dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions