Taipei: McDonald's Taiwan has announced a significant shift in its packaging strategy, ceasing the use of plastic lamination and paper boxes for certain products as part of its efforts to enhance environmental sustainability.

According to Focus Taiwan, starting from July, McDonald's Taiwan began serving popular items like the Big Mac, Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish, and Apple Pie in paper wraps and bags instead of traditional boxes. This change is projected to conserve approximately 10,000 trees annually, marking a substantial move towards reducing environmental impact.

Moreover, McDonald's Taiwan has substituted the plastic lamination inside its packaging with more eco-friendly materials composed of starch or silicon. This alteration is anticipated to cut down plastic usage by 86 metric tons each year, reflecting the company's commitment to reducing plastic waste.

The initiative comes after three years dedicated to researching, developing, and testing new materials and techniques, leading to its official launch. The updated packaging was initially tested in October 2024 at two eco-friendly concept stores and later expanded to four additional locations by March.

The packaging revisions are part of a larger strategy aimed at promoting sustainability, with McDonald's Taiwan highlighting that over 200 of its restaurants now provide reusable cups to minimize single-use cup waste.