Burger King® UK is melting down plastic toys for good
All plastic toys will be removed from Burger King® UK’s King Junior Meals from tomorrow
19th September 2019: Burger King® UK has installed a giant melting toy on the Southbank as it invites the nation to join its Meltdown and turn unwanted toys into something amazing. The oversized jeep-driving bunny, Beep Beep, is designed to symbolise the major step Burger King® UK is taking to reduce single-use plastics. As one of the biggest toy suppliers, Burger King® UK will be completely removing all plastic toys from its King Junior Meals from tomorrow. This significant move marks a key commitment by the brand to improving wider sustainability practices.
The Home of the Whopper® is now calling on the public to join them in the movement and do something brilliant with their old plastic toys. Meltdown will see plastic toy amnesty bins installed in every restaurant across the UK. People are invited to drop off their giveaway or free meal plastic toys and give them a new lease of life so they can be transformed into future interactive play opportunities for families at Burger King® restaurants across the UK.
All free* toys will be accepted in the amnesty bins, even if they’re not from King Junior Meals, so everyone can get involved in making a positive impact. Not only that, those taking part in the Meltdown between 19th – 30th September will receive a free King Junior meal with any purchase of an adult meal.
The move will save an estimated 320 tonnes of single use plastic annually and is part of a wider commitment on plastics reduction. In partnership with the world’s leading Circular Economy company, Pentatonic, Burger King® UK will prove that you really can teach old toys new tricks as it transforms all donated toys into new play areas and other everyday restaurant items including interactive trays.
Katie Evans, Marketing Director at Burger King® UK, said: “It is impossible to ignore the growing problem excessive plastic waste is causing and we are glad to be taking action. At Burger King we know we can positively contribute to finding new, more sustainable solutions, long term.
“We’re inviting customers to donate their unwanted plastic toys and working with Pentatonic, we’re excited to give them a fresh start. We recognised that by replacing them with a more sustainable solution there was an opportunity for us to make a radical change with Meltdown – one of the first of many.”
Fernando Machado, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Burger King, added: “We are a global brand, and the UK market will be leading the way in making this first step towards change, which is part of our wider commitment on reducing plastics. Work is currently underway across all of our markets to look at how we can completely move away from non bio-degradable plastic toys by 2025.”
Jamie Hall, Founder & CMO, Pentatonic commented, “Project Meltdown is a giant leap for the food and beverage industry in terms of its waste culture. True impact is only achievable through action, not words. Burger King UK is not making a vague gesture, which is so often the case in this sector, instead they are taking significant action. Burger King UK has listened to their audience and is responding in an emphatic way and we are delighted to provide the design and manufacturing technologies to make their bold vision a reality.”
Children enjoying a King Junior Meal this month will get a special edition Meltdown box, sticker sheet and crown, celebrating the start of the campaign.
For more information head to burgerking.co.uk/meltdown or follow #BKMeltdown.