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A British mum has started a petition to put an end to plastic toys in fast food meals due to their devastating impact on the environment.

British mum of two, Rachael Wood, has started a petition calling for fast food chains to stop including plastic toys in children’s meals.Inspired by her daughters, Ella, 9 and Caitlin, 7, who have been learning about the environmental impact of plastic at school, Rachael’s petition is already attracting significant attention from other parents wanting to make a difference.

The Pressure Is On

The petition has already received over 300,000 signatures, with Rachael and her daughters calling for fast food giants McDonalds and Burger King to make a change.

“It made us very sad to see how plastic harms wildlife and pollutes the ocean and we want to change this,” the petition says. “We want (these fast food chains) to think of the environment and stop giving plastic toys with their kids meals.”

The petition highlights that the plastic used to produce these meal deal toys is not recyclable, contributing to plastic pollution and unnecessary plastic waste.

“We want anything they give to us to be sustainable so we can protect the planet for us and for future generations,” the girls said.

Immediate Action

Despite ongoing pressure to increase the sustainability of toys included with children’s meals, neither McDonald’s or Burger King in the UK appear to have taken any immediate action on the issue.

There have also been calls for fast food chains worldwide to ban plastic straws from their drink options and offer incentives for customers who bring their own coffee cups.

For Rachael and her girls, however, it’s a case of too little too late. “It’s not enough to make recyclable plastic toys,” they said. “Big, rich companies shouldn’t be making toys out of plastic at all.”

What changes would you like to see fast food chains make to be more environmentally friendly? Share your thoughts in the comments.

You May Also Be Interested In:

Mums Share The Extremes They Go To In Trying To Be Plastic Free
First Australian State Bans Single Use Plastics
McDonald’s To Hand Out Free Books Instead Of Toys

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  • I agree that a recyclable alternative could be created but most companies wouldn’t do this as it would cost them money and take some effort on their part.

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  • All business’ and individuals using different ways or products reducing plastic is good.

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  • Big W had very good small books for a few weeks. You didn’t even have to shop there but it did encourage people to do so.

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  • It would be great if these things could be banned!! I don’t buy Maccas for my kids (they don’t eat it, they just play) and don’t get the Coles mini’s when they come out. I think BigW’s books and Woolies learning tiles were much better options.
    I wish I could say don’t buy them, but if they’re not on offer, then the option to choose just isn’t there.

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  • very hard call as they probably wouldn’t offer the cheap meal pack to kids without the toy, although surely there must be some other attractive offering they can come up with that is more sustainable and marketable.

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  • Can’t see it changing

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  • They’ve used non plastic toys in the past, maybe if they made better toys, I’d be more likely to buy them :)

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  • Difficult to say. It has to be something cheap for McDonalds, otherwise they would stop altogether the Happy Meals.

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  • I’m sure they could come up with some other ideas that don’t use plastic … or at least use recyclable materials.

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  • Maccas is a treat so I have no issue with the toy. Mine only get it a few times per year

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  • I would be happy if they ditch these promotions,same for Coles and Woolies. If they’re desperate to do a promotion why not something educational or a book.

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  • Perhaps if they could make the toys recyclable, using plastic such as that tubs are made from with the recyclable logo on them.

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  • Consumers can say no to toys.

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  • One of my daughter’s was Happy meal mad for many years. The toy’s are a big seller for the fast food chain.

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  • Parents can ask for the meal with no toy if they wish.

    Reply

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