Parents often rely on McDonald’s for a quick and convenient meal for their kids. That’s why the fast-food chain introduced Happy Meals, which are small packaged meals that come with a burger or chicken nuggets, fries, apple slices, and a drink. But now, parents are expressing their frustration with McDonald’s for replacing the plastic toys in Happy Meals with cardboard ones in an effort to be more environmentally friendly.
Parents from all over are taking to social media to voice their displeasure with this change. They argue that the new cardboard toys are “awful” and a waste of money. One dad even shared that his children used to love the old toys, but now they simply throw away the cardboard ones.
McDonald’s made the switch from plastic to cardboard toys to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the world. However, parents are now urging the fast-food giant to use recycled plastic toys instead. They believe that if children are paying a higher price for a Happy Meal, they should at least receive a toy that is worth it and can be recycled.
One dad named Philip expressed his disappointment, stating, “The cardboard toys are awful. I don’t believe it was really about reducing plastic waste. Many families kept those plastic toys, and you can still find them in charity shops years later. Let’s be honest, you saved money and increased the price of Happy Meals, it’s not about the environment.”
Tanya, a concerned mom, also spoke up about the new toys, saying, “While it’s great for the environment, the new toys are not enjoyable for kids. They’re not something that younger children actually like to play with. And every toy my child received was quickly destroyed. Wouldn’t it be better to use recycled plastic?”
Ash, another parent, complained, “The current toys are terrible. They don’t make my child ‘happy,’ which is the whole point of a Happy Meal.”
Richard added, “The new toys are so bad that it’s almost better if they weren’t included. My kids used to love the old toys, but now they just end up in the trash.”
Although customers and parents are unhappy with the new Happy Meal toys, McDonald’s has made significant progress towards being a more environmentally friendly fast-food chain. In fact, they claim that removing plastic toys has reduced their plastic waste production by over 890 tons.
Furthermore, McDonald’s has taken additional steps to help the environment by recycling old plastic toys to create playgrounds for children through their charity, Ronald McDonald House Charities, which supports families in need.
While their efforts to reduce plastic waste are commendable, McDonald’s should consider the concerns and feedback of parents to find a balance between being environmentally friendly and providing enjoyable toys for children.
