To go: McDonald’s ditches plastic straws

FAST-food giant McDonald’s will replace the plastic straws served in its Irish restaurants with paper alternatives in a bid to cut down on plastics in the environment.

The changeover will take place across the chain’s 92 Irish restaurants from September, with the project set to be complete by next year.

The paper used for the new straws will be drawn from sustainable forests and will be made by two companies, one of which is based in Northern Ireland.

Environment Minister Denis Naughten welcomed the move by McDonald’s and said it was a step in the right direction.

‘This is a clear demonstration that large companies and organisations are taking their environmental responsibilities seriously and moving in the right direction by eliminating single-use plastics,’ he said.

The company is the latest in a number of chains to seek alternative options and pursue measures to minimise the impact on the environment by reducing packaging and opting for sustainable sources.

According to the European Commission, 25million tonnes of plastic waste is produced every year.

The Irish Daily Mail earlier this year launched our ‘Turn The Tide On Plastic’ campaign in a bid to reduce levels of plastic waste entering our seas.