McDonald's in Czechia ditches plastic lids on hot and cold beverages

To further eliminate plastic waste, McDonald's announced this week that hot and cold beverages served in the restaurant will now arrive sans plastic lids. Customers can still request a lid, but instead of the traditional plastic topper, lids will be crafted from eco-friendly pressed fiber.

The change, which went into effect on Monday, Jan. 15, aligns with the company's broader goal to phase out plastic packaging entirely, replacing it with renewable, recycled, or certified materials by 2025.

McDonald's Impact Director, Tomáš Myler, emphasized that customers can still choose to have a lid or straw.

"I believe that our customers care about the planet as much as we do. For drinks served in the restaurant, customers can opt for a lid or a straw. Paper materials will be used for cold drinks, and, for hot drinks, we are actively exploring alternative options."

For takeout orders, hot drinks will continue to be served with a plastic lid, while cold drinks will feature lids made of pressed paper fiber. This exemption applies to McDelivery due to safety considerations during transport.

McDonald's previously replaced plastic straws with paper ones and has transitioned from plastic to wooden cutlery.

Plastic has also been eliminated from cups for cold drinks, shakes, and salad boxes. Since 2022, McDonald's has exclusively sold Rajec spring water in rPET packaging and began transitioning to eco-friendly toys for Happy Meals a year earlier.

The initiative is expected to reduce plastic consumption by 30 percent resulting in an annual saving of 84 tons of plastic, the company said in a press statement.