McDonald’s announces huge Happy Meal shake-up affecting free toys for kids

The US burger chain is on a green push with its Happy Meals – and kids will get cardboard toys, cuddly toys and board games in place of non-recyclable plastic ones

McDonald’s will be changing the toys in its Happy Meals around the world to use less plastic, the firm has announced.

It will be including more paper-based toys, such as 3D models and toys children can put together themselves.

The idea has already taken off in the US, where Happy Meals can contain paper-based toys like Pokemon trading cards.

In the UK McDonald’s started adding books, board games and cuddly toys to its Happy Meals in 2019 after a petition from two schoolgirls.

From January no UK Happy Meals have contained non-recyclable plastic, according to CNN.

McDonald’s sells more than 1billion toys a year with its Happy Meals.

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The fast food giant hopes the effort will save more than 3,000 tonnes of plastic at its UK business from 2021, which would be its biggest single reduction to date.

McDonald’s has in the past committed to reducing emissions by 36% by the end of the decade, and to use recycled or renewable materials in all its packaging by 2025.

The company has removed the lids from its McFlurry ice creams, saving 385 tonnes of plastic, replaced its salad boxes with ones that can be recycled as paper, and rolled-out paper straws last year.

It also recently launched a vegan burger, the McPlant.

Made with non-dairy ingredients, the burger has been accredited as vegan by the Vegetarian Society.

It is designed to serve as an attractive option for the four million Brits that visit the chain each day, including the meat-eaters.

The patty, which was co-developed with U.S company Beyond Meat, is complemented by the classic burger compilation of a vegan bread bun, mustard, ketchup, vegan burger sauce, onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato and vegan cheese

The McPlant is the same price as a Big Mac at £3.49.