Wendy’s announced that it is moving from a selection of plastic-lined paper cups with limited recyclability to single-substrate, clear plastic drink cups that more consumers will be able to recycle.
Based on a mass balance approach, the cups will also use 20% ISCC-certified, recycled plastic across all North America restaurants – a quick-service restaurant industry first – with the potential to increase the amount of recycled plastic used in the future.
The initial set of large cups, created in collaboration with packaging and plastics industry leaders Berry Global and LyondellBasell –– will be available in Wendy’s U.S. and Canada locations in early 2022, with all cups in Wendy’s restaurants in the United States and Canada transitioning in 2023.
The new cups improve recyclability, compared to Wendy’s current cups, and increases the use of recycled plastic.
The cups will divert an estimated 10 million pounds of waste from landfills over the first two years.
The initial amount of waste diverted is projected to increase significantly as Wendy’s works with Berry Global to expand the use of recycled plastic throughout their entire cup set.
This collaboration and the new cups will help advance Wendy’s goal of sustainably sourcing 100% of its customer-facing packaging by 2026.
To learn more, visit www.berryglobal.com/wendyspartnership
Donna Scott
Tuesday 12th of July 2022
I would much rather drink out of recyclable paper cups and straws. The plastic sweats in your hand and changes the taste of the sodas. Plus all sizes of the cups are smaller now.
Vicki Bertram
Monday 28th of March 2022
Why is there no mention made regarding changing the size of the cups as well? We now pay more for less with the new cups and it could also be significantly more if prices also increased as it seems like they did where I live.
RadioManOH
Monday 23rd of May 2022
@Dave, Imagine paying a "minimum wage employee" fifteen dollars an hour to not care.
Dave
Sunday 15th of May 2022
@Nicole, "What a joke." LOL Imagine expecting minimum wage employees (who probably had no idea the cups got smaller) to tell every single car that comes through the drive thru that their large size is now 8 oz smaller. They don't do that because normal people don't care, and it only wastes time (it's called fast food for a reason!). Your comment reeks of entitlement and I can assure you that you (or at least your family) will be back. I feel bad for the employees who had to go through the trouble to give you a refund and deal with your nonsense.
Shantel
Thursday 5th of May 2022
@Zo, the crazy thing is there is no mention that the large is now only 32oz. Yes I measured it, I also googled it and where there is mention of going back in time with sizes there is no where stated a ounce. Everywhere I looked I still saw the sizes as med 30oz and large 40oz... this is sad because who wants to pay more for less..
Zo
Thursday 28th of April 2022
@Nicole, I literally just got home from Wendy’s and when I was given my drink I asked if it was a large and the guy in the drive thru said yes. I even called to double check and was informed they have new cups. I’m ready to whip out my measuring cup. Lol.
Nicole
Monday 4th of April 2022
@Vicki Bertram, yes I got a large cup and I thought it was the equivalent of a medium of the normal cups. It’s so much smaller then their normal large cup. I actually drove back around through the drive through and refunded it. I guess Wendy’s just lost a loyal customer in me and my family. We will never pay more for a size smaller. What a joke. I’m happy to see you comment on how small the cups are now as well. The lady at the til didn’t want to refund me but she did because I told her she should have advised me I was paying for what I thought was a large cup but with the new sizes I was actually getting a medium (or even slightly less then medium) by their behaviour during the refund I would put money on the fact others have also refused to purchase this new cups for more money with way less in it. What a joke.