Burger King has announced that it will be piloting a new range of reusable and returnable packaging for burgers, sides, and drinks across selected restaurants with the global re-use platform, Loop.
The new range will include a reusable clamshell burger container and cup. Burger King says it will be the first fast-food restaurant in the UK to pilot the reusable clamshell containers for burgers from Loop.
According to Burger King, customers can choose to purchase 10 of its products in Loop reusable packaging. This includes Whopper and Crispy Chicken burgers, with the option to make it a medium meal combo with a reusable cup for soft drinks. The reusable packaging is also available with some six- and nine-piece sides, like Chilli Cheese Bites, Onion Rings, Chicken Fries, and Chicken Nuggets.
To take part in the scheme, Burger King customers will have the option to pay a £1 deposit for a reusable cup or container instead of using single-use packaging. Customers can then return the reusable packaging by scanning its barcode on the Loop app and placing it in a Loop bin, which will be outside select Burger King restaurants where the trials are taking place.
The £1 deposit will be refunded upon return of the cups or containers, Burger King adds, with all reusable packaging then being professionally cleaned using Loop’s cleaning system. Each item will apparently be sanitised before it returns to circulation in-store.
The Loop reusable packaging will be trialled at four Burger King restaurants in Ipswich and one in Newmarket from the 26th of April 2022 until the 5th of September 2022. If the trial is successful, Burger King says it will potentially explore rolling out the packaging nationwide on a permanent basis.
Burger King says the reusable packaging is part of its plans to reduce carbon emissions, with a target of a 41% reduction in value chain emissions per restaurant by 2030. The restaurant chain has also pledged to 0% single-use plastic by 2025.
Nicola Pierce, director of commercial planning and ESG at Burger King UK, comments: “We’re delighted to unveil a trial range of re-usable and returnable packaging for our restaurants.
“The launch of the new packaging from Burger King UK will include the first-ever reusable and returnable ‘clamshell’ for burgers and sides in the UK.
“We’re excited to see how the trial performs over the next five months and help us reach our goal of eliminating single-use plastic within our restaurants by 2025.”
Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle and Loop, adds: “The partnership between Loop and Burger King UK enables customers in selected UK restaurants a simple and convenient way to trial re-usable packaging when ordering their favourite burgers, sides and drinks.
“Consumer demand for more sustainable options is at an all-time high and the customer response to this exciting trial will be used to inform future plans for a long-term reusable and returnable packaging scheme.”
Last year, McDonald’s partnered with Loop to pilot a returnable coffee cup scheme in six of its UK stores, which were also made available to customers for a £1 deposit refunded upon the return of the cups for cleaning and reuse.
