-
Advertisement

Little relish to scrap burger boxes

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP

BUY a Big Mac anywhere in the world and you will get the same sesame-seed bun, identical slices of beef and exactly the same combination of sauce and salad.

But in Hong Kong it will come in a styrofoam box, while elsewhere it might be in cardboard, or wrapped in paper with a card 'collar' to keep pickles and patties in place.

In places where styrofoam is banned - or where public pressure against its use is strong enough - McDonald's has been using more environmentally friendly burger wraps for almost a decade.

Advertisement

Foam burger boxes were phased out at mainland McDonald's branches a few months ago, but there are no plans to scrap them in the SAR.

'If you have a major multinational that's demonstrating it can use environmental products in some parts of the world and then doesn't use them here, that's inexcusable,' says government adviser Barry Cook.

Advertisement

McDonald's insists it is not that simple and that concerns about hygiene, food quality and keeping burgers hot prevent the immediate replacement of foam in Hong Kong, home to some of the company's busiest outlets.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x