McDonald’s Japan will start phasing out paper straws and introducing 100% recycled PET (rPET) strawless lids for chilly drinks nationwide from Wednesday, 19 November 2025.
The shift to strawless lids—designed so prospects can drink immediately from the cup—varieties a part of a broader packaging plan the corporate says will lower using virgin plastic by about 6,600 tonnes a 12 months between 2022 and 2025.
McDonald’s Japan Inc., headquartered in Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward and led by president and CEO Thomas Ko, outlined the measures in an replace dated 27 October 2025.
Swap to strawless lids begins on 19 November
The brand new rPET strawless lid can be used on paper cups for chilly drinks and can change the present lid-and-straw set-up.
Based on the corporate, the lid has been in improvement for greater than three years to satisfy the wants of in-store, takeaway, supply and drive-through orders. The design features a ingesting spout supposed to open simply whereas resisting unintentional leaks in transit.
For carbonated drinks, the lid is constructed to restrict liquid “blow-out” brought on by stress adjustments throughout motion. Because the rollout progresses nationwide, paper straws can be discontinued in sequence.
The transfer locations “strawless lids”, “rPET” and “recycled PET” on the centre of McDonald’s Japan’s single-use plastic discount technique.
Firm targets lower of about 6,600 tonnes of virgin plastic a 12 months
McDonald’s Japan says it has been reviewing containers and packaging supplies since 2022 with the intention of prioritising renewable, recycled or licensed inputs.
The collection of adjustments—culminating within the introduction of rPET strawless lids—are anticipated to scale back the annual use of virgin plastic by roughly 6,600 tonnes as soon as totally carried out.
The corporate frames the transition as a part of a multi-year plan working by means of 2025, aligning with broader retail tendencies on plastic discount, packaging optimisation and round supplies.
Biomass plastic provider luggage develop nationwide
From 19 November, shops throughout Japan can even start switching their takeaway provider luggage to variations made with 95% biomass plastic, changing luggage beforehand made with 50% biomass content material.
The upper-content luggage had been trialled earlier in 2025 throughout all McDonald’s shops in Nagasaki Prefecture (23 areas, excluding the Sasebo Air Base retailer). The corporate studies that sturdiness and value had been equal to the sooner luggage, paving the way in which for nationwide deployment.
Prospects are inspired to say no a bag when not wanted as a part of ongoing efforts to scale back packaging waste.
Pleased set supplies transfer to licensed paper and away from virgin plastic
Past drinks packaging and provider luggage, McDonald’s Japan says it’s working to maneuver all Pleased Set® toys to renewable, recycled or licensed supplies by the top of 2025.
As a part of that effort, the corporate switched its image books—launched with Pleased Set in March 2025—from a hardcover format utilizing virgin plastic to a softcover constituted of FSC-certified paper.
The guide packaging likewise modified from plastic to an FSC-certified paper bag.
These measures add to the corporate’s acknowledged objectives round virgin plastic discount and accountable sourcing in its household and youngsters’ ranges.
“McDonald’s Japan overhauls packaging with rPET strawless lids” was initially created and revealed by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned model.
The data on this website has been included in good religion for basic informational functions solely. It’s not supposed to quantity to recommendation on which it is best to rely, and we give no illustration, guarantee or assure, whether or not categorical or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. It’s essential to receive skilled or specialist recommendation earlier than taking, or refraining from, any motion on the premise of the content material on our website.
