McDonald’s Netherlands must stop serving drinks and McFlurry ice creams in single-use cardboard cups for on-site consumption after the country’s Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) found multiple violations.
The enforcement action followed a complaint from the Fair Resource Foundation, a Netherlands-based environmental organisation working on waste prevention, reuse and sustainable resource use.
The organisation alleged that McDonald’s had continued to use single-use cardboard cups with plastics coatings despite Dutch rules requiring reusable packaging for on-site consumption.
Since January 2024, hospitality businesses in the Netherlands have been required to use reusable packaging for food and drinks consumed on-site. An exception applies to packaging made from high-quality recycled and recyclable PET.
McDonald’s violations
The ILT carried out inspections at 32 McDonald’s locations and found violations. McDonald’s must switch to reusable cups for on-site consumption by 5 January 2027.
If it fails to comply, the company faces a penalty of €625,000 ($726,000) per violation, up to a maximum of €3.75 million ($4.36m).
The Fair Resource Foundation welcomed the decision. “McDonald’s is a symbol of the throwaway economy,” said Chloé Schwizgebel, project coordinator at the organisation.
“Hopefully, this is the beginning of the end of it. Disposable packaging pollutes our streets, beaches, and seas, and it is a huge waste of energy and raw materials.”
Environmental benefits
McDonald’s said it supports the objective of the legislation but argued that the current rules do not always deliver the intended environmental benefits.
“The government and McDonald’s share the same goal: less plastics and demonstrable environmental gains,” a spokesperson told ANP (the National News Agency of the Netherlands).
“In our restaurants, on-site consumption and takeaway are mixed daily. Guests frequently decide to take their drink home after consuming on-site. This is recognisable consumer behaviour and a challenge for the entire fast-service sector.”
Environmental impacts
McDonald’s said its experience showed that low return rates for reusable cups could increase plastics use and environmental impacts. It added that it had shared its data and experience with the ILT and the Dutch ministry since the rules were introduced.
The company is now preparing to introduce reusable cups for on-site customers by January 2027.
The action comes as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation introduces further reuse requirements for the hospitality sector. Businesses must allow consumers to use their own containers for takeaway beverages by 12 February 2027, with further requirements for reusable packaging applying from 2028.
