McDonald's Holds 'Straw Retirement Ceremony' to Remove Straw Containers from Stores

McDonald's Sangam DMC crew members are taking a commemorative photo for the 'Straw Retirement Ceremony' in the outdoor plaza in front of the store, removing the place where plastic straws used to be inside the store.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] McDonald's Korea announced on the 25th that it will hold a 'Straw Retirement Ceremony' to remove plastic straws from all stores nationwide. Going forward, straws will be provided only upon customer request.

In October, McDonald's introduced a new slogan, "Small but Big Changes for a Better World," and announced new action plans and efforts to contribute to local communities and the environment. As the first step, they introduced a straw-free drink lid called 'Ttukkeongi.' Through this, they achieved a reduction of 4.3 tons of plastic straws used monthly on average, representing a 32% decrease compared to the same period last year.

This year, McDonald's plans to continue practicing the 3Rs (Reduction, Reusable, Recycling) and maintain eco-friendly management efforts. By encouraging customers to enjoy beverages with the straw-free 'Ttukkeongi,' they aim to promote participation in the plastic straw reduction campaign.

Previously, McDonald's eliminated plastic lids from its signature ice cream dessert menu, 'McFlurry,' reducing plastic usage by approximately 14 tons over one year. In November, they signed a voluntary agreement with the Ministry of Environment to reduce the use of disposable items such as plastic straws, continuing proactive efforts for resource saving and environmental protection. In recognition of these eco-friendly management efforts, McDonald's Korea received the Prime Minister's Commendation at the 12th Resource Circulation Day last year.

A McDonald's Korea representative stated, "Through this 'Straw Retirement Ceremony,' we hope many customers will join in small actions to reduce plastic straw usage," and added, "We will continue to lead social responsibility for the environment by developing innovative programs and strive to solve environmental issues."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.