Business

Belfast-based firm to supply McDonald's paper straws

Finnish-based packaging supplier, Huhtamaki will help produce new paper straws for McDonald's at its Belfast plant
Finnish-based packaging supplier, Huhtamaki will help produce new paper straws for McDonald's at its Belfast plant Finnish-based packaging supplier, Huhtamaki will help produce new paper straws for McDonald's at its Belfast plant

FAST food giant McDonald's has announced that a Northern Ireland-based firm will supply new paper straws as part of the UK roll-out.

McDonald’s UK and Ireland will begin the process of transferring to paper straws in its restaurants from September, including the 29 in the north.

Huhtamaki: a Finnish-based packaging supplier that has worked with McDonald’s for over 30 years, will produce the straws in Northern Ireland and will fulfil the contract with Welsh firm Transcend Packaging.

Huhtamaki has two locations in the north in Belfast and Lurgan.

Paul Pomroy, CEO of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, said: “Reflecting the broader public debate, our customers told us they wanted to see a move on straws but to do so without compromising their overall experience when visiting our restaurants. Over the past few months we’ve been working closely with supplier partners to find a solution that works both for our customers, and that the supply is there given the size of our business."

The move in the UK supports McDonald’s goal to source 100 per cent of guest packaging from renewable, recycled, or certified sources by 2025 and to have guest packaging recycling in all restaurants globally.