Brazilian McDonald’s franchise tests recycled-content product

Recycled-content thermoplastic food trays made with technology created by Israel-based UBQ Materials are now being used at some 30 McDonald’s locations in Brazil.

UBQ says São Paulo-based Arcos Dorados, which it calls the largest independent McDonald’s franchise in the world, in late January started using 7,200 serving trays made with UBQ technology at 30 McDonald’s restaurants in 20 Brazilian state capitals, replacing older plastic tray models.

According to UBQ, Arcos Dorados operates restaurants in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the trays are a way for it to “advance its commitment to drive a positive impact on the environment, [via] the substitution of the plastic trays used by clients in its outlets with a more sustainable version.”

The measure is part of an Arcos Dorados plastics reduction program that began in 2018. Since then, more than 1,300 tons of single-use plastic have been removed from the restaurants. The plan is to continue on this path, minimizing the use of virgin materials throughout logistics, supply chain and manufacturing to measurably offset the chain’s carbon footprint.

The new trays represent what UBQ calls the first step in a partnership between Arcos Dorados and UBQ Materials. UBQ refers to itself as an Israeli company that has patented a technology that “converts household waste into a climate positive, bio-based thermoplastic.”

UBQ says its process does not require “highly developed sorting,” but instead UBQ’s technology receives landfill-destined waste that includes food leftovers, paper, cardboard and mixed plastics. This material is converted into a single composite thermoplastic material “compatible with industry machinery and manufacturing standards,” says UBQ.

The use of the food trays by Arcos Dorados will gradually be extended to all the firm’s McDonald’s restaurants in Brazil, with 11,000 additional trays already in production, according to UBQ. Overall, Arcos Dorados has more than 2,200 locations in some 20 countries and territories.

“Outside the presence of a UBQ logo, McDonald’s patrons will see and feel no difference in the iconic serving tray, as the impact of this collaboration is in the intangible offset of carbon emissions,” says UBQ. Using UBQ in the production of the new trays has already diverted more than 1,200 kilograms (2,645 pounds) of waste from being sent to landfills, adds the firm.

Every ton of UBQ produced prevents nearly 12 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent into the environment. According to Quantis, a Switzerland-based provider of environmental impact assessments, this metric qualifies UBQ as “the most climate positive thermoplastic on the market,” says UBQ. The production of the first 18,000 trays represents an estimated reduction of 3,713 kilograms (8,185 pounds) of CO₂ equivalent.

“We as a company are fully committed to the environment and are doing everything possible to reduce the impact of our operation by means of our Recipe for the Future platform,” says Gabriel Serber, director of sustainable development and social impact at Arcos Dorados. “The partnership with UBQ is yet another step toward introducing more and more innovative solutions to improve the world around us, and we are proud to take this first step, supporting a technology that will transform the way society recycles its organic waste.”

The trays are being produced by Brazilian company Semaza, which has a plant is in Santana de Parnaíba, in the Greater São Paulo region.

“UBQ has the potential to revolutionize the way we view waste, transforming it from a liability into a valuable resource for manufacturing,” says Albert Douer, executive chairman of UBQ Materials. “The market at large is demanding sustainable solutions and the fast-food industry is no exception. UBQ enables manufacturers to create products that positively impact our world, without compromising on profitability -- the solution is as simple as implementation.”