Burger King Announces Sustainable Packaging Pilot, Expansion Of Reusable Container Program

Fast-food purveyor Burger King has announced that it is trialing new, more sustainable packaging in 51 company-owned Miami locations. 

Fast-food purveyor Burger King has announced that it is trialing new, more sustainable packaging in 51 company-owned Miami locations. 

The new items utilize several approaches towards being more sustainable, including reducing the overall material utilized, the use of recyclable and recycled materials, and non-synthetic and bio-based replacement of others. The firm will also test a new beverage lid that eliminates the need for a plastic straw, as well as straws made from paper and plant-based materials, a change that Burger King estimates could potentially save 500 million examples of the single-use utensil.

Other changes include “Frypods” made from unbleached renewable paperboard, cPLA cutlery, napkins manufactured out of 100% recyclable fibers, and two Whopper wrappers that reduce paper use by 13 and 34 percent. That change alone would reduce paper waste by 500-1,500 metric tons, according to Burger King.

“Sustainable packaging is a cornerstone of our Restaurant Brands for Good journey, and this new pilot represents a huge opportunity for us to make a difference,” Matthew Banton, head of innovation and sustainability for Burger King, said in a press release. “We’re optimistic about our progress and are committed to reducing waste to do our part in creating a more sustainable future.”

Burger King also announced an expansion of its partnership with Loop to reduce single-use packaging with reusable containers, adding London and Paris to the already slated cities of New York, Portland, and Tokyo. Finally, Burger King also announced a partnership with Coca-Cola and Kraft Heinz to explore and implement changes to improve packaging and distribution along the supply chain concerning sustainability.