McDonald’s is taking its commitment to sustainability to a new level, and it starts with what their crew members wear every day. The fast-food giant has rolled out new McDonald’s uniform designs that are not just a fresh look, but a significant step towards reducing environmental impact. These aren’t your average uniform pieces; the new aprons, jeans, and graphic T-shirts are crafted with innovative CiCLO® technology, designed to make polyester biodegradable at rates comparable to natural fibers like wool.
This initiative translates to a brand-new wardrobe for McDonald’s crew that’s proactively working to prevent tons of plastic waste from polluting our ecosystems. Beyond the environmental benefits, these new McDonald’s uniform options are also designed with style and comfort in mind.
Understanding CiCLO® Technology: A Breakthrough in Sustainable Textiles
The textile industry, especially for uniforms, relies heavily on synthetic materials like polyester for durability. McDonald’s uniforms are no exception, requiring robust fabrics to withstand daily wear and tear. However, traditional polyester poses an environmental challenge. Microfibers shed from polyester during manufacturing, use, and washing persist in the environment long after the garment’s life cycle. These microfibers, often too small to be effectively filtered, contribute significantly to microplastic pollution in soil and oceans, becoming one of the most pervasive forms of plastic pollution worldwide.
CiCLO® technology offers a groundbreaking solution to this problem. It’s a patented textile ingredient engineered to lessen synthetic microfiber pollution. When incorporated into polyester production, CiCLO® technology enables any shed fibers to biodegrade at rates similar to wool in various environments like wastewater sludge, soil, landfills, and seawater. Importantly, this biodegradation process only activates with prolonged exposure to moisture and microbes, ensuring the polyester remains durable throughout the uniform’s use. The fabric won’t degrade prematurely while stored, worn, or during laundering.
Currently, CiCLO® technology is finding applications in various products, from swimwear and bedding to yarns and fabrics, including the denim now featured in the new McDonald’s uniform line.
Integrating Sustainability into the McDonald’s Kitchen and Beyond
McDonald’s ambitious pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 underscores their commitment to environmental responsibility. This pledge drives innovation across all areas of their operations, from exploring renewable energy sources and promoting a circular economy to adopting more sustainable packaging. This extends to partnerships with franchisees, suppliers, and producers to discover creative methods for waste reduction and resource preservation. Taking this challenge seriously, tms, McDonald’s uniform and packaging supplier, collaborated with uniform partner Way To Be to develop a more sustainable approach to outfitting U.S. crew members. This collaboration led to the adoption of designs made with CiCLO® technology for the new McDonald’s uniform.
To assess the practicality of the new material, a blind field test was conducted on aprons made with CiCLO® technology. The results were encouraging, with crew members reporting no noticeable differences in performance, comfort, or ease of care compared to previous uniforms.
Since the successful trial, the new McDonald’s uniform featuring CiCLO® technology has been made available to all restaurants across the U.S. It demonstrates that looking good and doing good for the environment can go hand in hand, marking a significant step in sustainable practices within the fast-food industry.
