US-based fast food franchise McDonald’s is all set to replace polystyrene foam hot beverage cups with paper-made cups at all its 14,000 restaurants.
The move is a result of a shareholder resolution presented by an advocacy group As You Sow at the company's 2011 shareholder meeting that called for phasing out harmful foam cups.
McDonald's has been testing replacement of its foam cups with paper cups in over 2,000 restaurants on the West Coast since 2012.
The company believes that the paper cup will now become the standard hot beverage cups at all its outlets in the US.
As You Sow senior vice president Conrad MacKerron said the company's move will provide a recyclable alternative to polystyrene foam cups while reducing the threat of plastic pollution to oceans.
"We hope they will also incorporate recycled fiber in the cups and develop on-site systems to collect and recycle food service packaging," MacKerron added.
