The course of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the entire fast food industry to strengthen its security processes.
The use of masks by employees was one of the main methods of preventing contagion. For this reason, its use was positioned as part of the regular security protocols in McDonald’s restaurants.
However, its useful life is short and, as waste, it causes major environmental problems because, due to its composition, it does not degrade.
Faced with this issue, Arcos Dorados, the company that operates McDonald’s in Chile, created an alliance with one of the main bioeconomy research and innovation centers: the Technological Development Unit (UDT) of the University of Concepción.
Purpose: Develop a program to give a second life to the disposable masks used in 15 McDonald’s restaurants in the Biobío Region and the Metropolitan Region.
technology to recycle
“We are a unique R&D center in Chile. The confidence that an international company, such as Arcos Dorados, has placed in our circular economy project, fills us with pride. We have been working for more than 20 years in research and technological innovation to recover materials and promote the generation of environmental solutions that are a contribution to companies and society, with a view to building a better future”, said Alex Berg, executive director of the Technological Development Unit. (UDT).
The initiative called “Plan Mascarillas” made Arcos Dorados the first company in the fast food industry to proactively develop solutions to this environmental problem. achieving recover more than 42,600 masks in one year.
All of them totaled 170 kilos of material, which the UDT transformed -in this first work cycle- into 431 trays that will return to the same restaurants that launched the initiative.
“As Arcos Dorados, we developed the Mask Plan program for the effective collection of masks in 15 of our restaurants. Without a doubt, the support of our employees has been essential to achieve the great results that we present today in terms of the circular economy. This initiative will continue to grow, always with the idea of adding environmental actions to our Recipe for the Future and promoting the modernization of our industry”, highlighted Lorena Talma, manager of Corporate Communications at Arcos Dorados Chile.
recipe of the future
Arcos Dorados’ “Mask Plan” is part of the company’s socio-environmental strategy “Recipe of the Future”. Through this, the chain develops and adds, each year, different initiatives for the construction of an increasingly sustainable industry.
Among these actions, the annual recovery of about 360 tons of oil to be transformed into raw material for biodiesel is recorded; the constant reduction of single-use plastics and polluting elements; and a long history of initiatives for the well-being of the community.
Among the latter, the successful program “Recicla tu Colilla” stands out, developed in partnership with IMEKO specialists. With this idea, the chain brought its experience in recycling to La Serena, where it maintains a long-standing alliance with the municipality.
Thanks to this action, carried out four years ago, more than 35,000 cigarette butts were prevented from entering the ecosystem of the area and, this year, Coquimbo also joined the initiative, thanks to the successful regional results. McDonald’s “Recipe of the Future” continues to grow.