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Burger King is reducing its ecological footprint and, in collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company and Kraft Heinz, is expanding the test for reusable loops

Burger King is committed to being part of a more sustainable future by reducing the ecological footprint. The fast food company continues on its journey, launching an eco-friendly packaging pilot program that focuses on finding scalable solutions for eight of its most frequently used items for diners, including forks, spoons, knives, straws, beverage lids, frypods, Whopper wrappers and napkins.

The guest packaging is being tested in 51 company-owned restaurants in Miami and using alternative materials such as Frypods made from renewable unbleached fresh cardboard. Cutlery made from cPLA, a plant-based plastic; and napkins made from 100 percent recycled fibers.

Burger King will also be testing paper and plant-based straws and strawless lids, which could potentially remove up to 500 million single-use plastic straws annually from participating Burger King restaurants in the United States.

This measure alone would remove 910 tons of greenhouse gases per year, the equivalent of 196 vehicles driven for a year. The company is also testing two new Whopper sandwich wrap options that reduce paper by 13 percent and 34 percent, respectively, compared to previous wraps. This could result in an additional 500 to 1,500 tons of paper waste being disposed of annually in the US.

“Sustainable packaging is a cornerstone of our Restaurant Brands for Good journey, and this new pilot offers us a great opportunity to make a difference,” said Matthew Banton, director of innovation and sustainability at Burger King. “We are optimistic about our progress and are committed to reducing waste to help create a more sustainable future.”

By piloting solutions in restaurants, Burger King can get direct feedback from guests on the performance of the packages, make iterative changes at our supplier, and create an implementation roadmap for the system. After the pilot is complete, the company will use the findings and feedback from guests to share our plans for nationwide sustainable packaging for the next year.

This pilot is an opportunity for Burger King to build knowledge and provide insights to the industry, while moving us closer to our goal of improving the sustainability of packaging by improving materials and reducing the overall consumption of packaging, including single-use plastics.

The eco-friendly packaging pilot is another step Burger King is taking to align with its principle of doing the right thing. With that in mind, the company continues to expand its global partnership with Loop to reduce single-use packaging with reusable products and intends to include two new cities, Paris and London, in addition to previously announced target cities of New York, Portland. and Tokyo.

The reusable pilot gives more guests the opportunity to join us in our waste reduction efforts when they order their Burger King favorites like the Whopper sandwich, a soft drink or a coffee.

Burger King understands that sustainability requires partnership across the supply chain The Coca Cola company and Kraft Heinz to bring these initiatives to life. Leveraging our combined size and resources, we will work together to provide insights, packaging expertise and resources for these pilots to help maximize future national potential.

“We keep innovating and rethinking how consumers enjoy Coca-Cola beverages. We’re excited to partner with Burger King to offer their guests a reusable packaging alternative, ”said Barry Danckert, Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company’s Global RBI Customer Team. “These efforts support the Coca-Cola Company’s ‘World Without Waste’ initiative and the goal of reducing the use of new plastic.”

“Burger King has been a leader in sustainability in food service and Kraft Heinz is excited to work with them and Loop to bring reusable packaging around the world. Global companies and global brands have the power to shape the world forever, and Kraft Heinz is committed to creating a better future through responsible recycling and reusable initiatives, ”said Peter Hall, President of Kraft Heinz, US Away From Home.