McDonald's to Replace McFlurry Lids with Eco-Friendly Cups in U.S. Starting This September

McDonald's is making a sustainability push by replacing its plastic dome McFlurry lids with environmentally friendly four-flap cups starting September 10. This shift is part of the company's ongoing effort to reduce plastic waste and will be accompanied by the launch of a Mini McFlurry option.

McDonald's U.S. Introduces Eco-Friendly McFlurry Packaging and New Mini McFlurry Option This Fall

If you visit a McDonald's when its ice cream machine is working, you might be looking forward to a McFlurry. However, starting September 10, McDonald's U.S. locations will unveil a new, more sustainable packaging for the iconic treat.

The McFlurry will no longer come in the familiar plastic dome lids but will instead be served in an "environmentally friendly four-flap cup." This new design, as announced in a press release, is made from FSC-certified fibers sourced from responsibly managed forests, aligning with McDonald’s goal to use sustainable packaging by 2025.

Alongside the packaging change, McDonald's is introducing a new Mini McFlurry, offering a smaller portion for those who want a lighter treat or for sharing with someone who wants "a bite."

While some might resist this change—similar to the debate over paper versus plastic straws—the four-flap cup has already been adopted in several international markets, including Indonesia, Europe, and Canada. This global adoption of sustainable practices makes this a collective effort towards sustainability, and you, as a consumer, are a part of this larger movement.

McDonald’s Sustainability Efforts: Eco-Friendly McFlurry Utensils and Packaging Protect Wildlife and Reduce Waste

According to Mashed, this shift is part of a broader sustainability effort at McDonald’s. In 2023, the fast-food giant replaced its distinctive McFlurry spoons with smaller, more eco-friendly utensils after switching to reusable spindles for mixing the dessert.

McDonald’s U.K. also led the way in 2019 by introducing lidless McFlurry cups to reduce plastic waste, a move partially inspired by a campaign to protect hedgehogs that had been getting stuck in discarded containers. This change has reduced plastic waste and positively impacted wildlife, such as skunks in Canada. These inspiring results show that switching to more sustainable packaging is good not just for the environment and the wildlife.