When McDonald’s in France changed the material of the container for French fries, it became very popular in the local area, and more and more people are taking it for collection.
According to the Financial Times (FT) on the 19th (local time), McDonald’s recently changed its distinctive red potato fry container to a rubber container. In order to comply with the circular economy law introduced by the French government, instead of disposable paper containers coated with plastic materials, they changed to reusable packaging materials.
In addition to the recognition that the container is eco-friendly, it is gaining great popularity as it evokes a desire to own it aesthetically. In particular, it is known that some McDonald’s customers take containers that are not allowed outside as souvenirs and use them as interior accessories.
French President Emmanuel Macron contributed to the trend by posting the container on social media to promote the government’s eco-friendly policy. At the time, President Macron said, “Look around you, the circular economy law doesn’t just stop using plastic straws,” he said. “Changes are happening in France to change consumption patterns and reduce waste.”
France started promoting circular economy laws in 2020. The goal is to completely stop using single-use plastic packaging by 2040. As part of this, from January of this year, a system that bans the use of disposable plates, cups, and cutlery when dining in restaurants with more than 20 seats has been implemented. French authorities expect to reduce about 150,000 tons of disposable waste, which amounts to 2 billion, through this system.
Local fast food stores have also been serving food in reusable glass, plastic, and rubber containers instead of disposables since the end of last year prior to the implementation of the system. In the case of McDonald’s, it invested 100 million euros (approximately 140 billion won) to change all of its beverage cups, spoons, forks, and knives to reusable materials. When customers return the tableware after eating, it is a system that is washed in hot water and reused in the store.
However, the paper packaging industry is protesting that if reusable tableware becomes commonplace, it could lose market share. The European Paper and Packaging Materials Association (EPPA) claims that single-use paper products are more environmentally friendly. EPPA said, “The carbon emissions and water consumption required for washing and drying reusable tableware are 2.8 times and 3.4 times higher, respectively, than disposable paper products.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.