Pressure from shareholders has reportedly led to the world’s largest quickservice restaurant company banning the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS).
Yum! Brands said it will “accelerate efforts to remove styrofoam and expanded polystyrene globally by 2022 across all KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell locations”. The move will reportedly remove 100m foam containers per year.
EPS, which is used for cups and containers, is considered hard-to-recycle and is often found during beach cleans.
Both EPS and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) have been deemed “problem plastics” under the UK Plastics Pact. Signatories to the voluntary agreement are working towards eliminating these – and seven other materials or items – by the end of this year.
McDonald’s has already banned the use of EPS in its outlets.
EPS food containers will be banned next year under the EU Single-use Plastics Directive.
