McDonald's to phase out plastic toys in Happy Meals by 2025

• That reduction would be equivalent to more than 650,000 people eliminating plastics from their lives each year, the company said.

What they're saying: "Protecting the planet for our shared future demands that we look at all parts of our business, including the customer experience," Jenny McColloch, the company's chief sustainability officer, said in a statement.

• "Together, we’re expanding our positive impact on the environment through the transformation of one of McDonald’s most beloved icons," McColloch added.

The big picture: The company has started offering only soft toys, paper-based toys or books in restaurants in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland.

• It is also exploring if playground equipment and restaurant trays can be made from recycled plastic toys.
• While single-use take-out food and drink containers make up the vast majority of environmentally hazardous plastic pollution around the world, mass-produced toys like those found in Happy Meals likely account for a small percentage of the litter.

Go deeper: Vast majority of consumers concerned about plastic and packaging waste