REVEALED: How these 10 McDonalds’s items could be harming the environment 🍟

New research has revealed that in one day the McNuggets Sharebox generates the same amount of CO2 as SIX London-Paris flights to produce and deliver, that’s almost 2.5kg of CO2, or 302 tonnes across all UK restaurants each day. 

The study by electric vehicle experts Vanarama investigated how eco-friendly McDonald’s deliveries are by calculating the amount of CO2 generated from the production and delivery of 10 menu items each day across all UK restaurants in comparison to London-Paris fights.

1. McNuggets Sharebox generates the equivalent of six London-Paris flights in CO2

A 20-piece McNuggets Sharebox generates almost 2.5kg of CO2, or 302 tonnes across all UK restaurants each day – equivalent to six London-Paris flights. Switching to EV delivery cars would allow for 19,610 carbon-neutral shareboxes to be created each day – that’s 392,200 guilt-free chicken nuggets.

2. The limited-edition Chicken Big Mac generates the equivalent of five London-Paris flights in CO2

The limited-edition Chicken Big Mac returned to the UK menu in late March 2023. Each one produced and delivered generates more than 1.7kg of CO2, amounting to 217 tonnes across all UK restaurants per day, that’s the equivalent of five London-Paris flights. However, EV deliveries would mean that each day 29,082 carbon-neutral Chicken Big Macs could be made. 

3. The recently dropped Chicken Legend generates the equivalent of four London-Paris flights in CO2 the same as its replacement the McCrispy

If McDonald’s was hoping to replace the Chicken Legend with a less environmentally harmful product, the McCrispy might not be it. In one day across all UK McDonald’s restaurants, both burgers would generate the equivalent of four London-Paris flights. The switch to EV McDelivery cars would have allowed for 32,375 carbon-neutral Chicken Legends per day. 

4. The McCrispy, the Chicken Legend’s replacement generates only 4% less CO2 

Producing and delivering a single Chicken Legend releases 1.6kg of CO2, but McCrispy is not far behind on 1.5kg – a reduction of only 4 per cent. EV McDelivery cars would create 33,977 carbon-neutral McCrispy’s, which is just 1,602 more burgers than the Chicken Legend each day. 

5. The iconic Big Mac generates the equivalent of four London-Paris flights in CO2

Interestingly the iconic Big Mac generates less CO2 than the Chicken Big Mac to produce and deliver. Across all UK restaurants in one day the Big Mac creates 186 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to the Chicken Big Mac which creates 217 tonnes. This is the same amount as four London-Paris flights in CO2, whereas the Chicken Big Mac CO2 emissions equate to five London-Paris flights. Per day there could be 35,378 carbon-neutral Big Macs created from EV deliveries. 

6. The vegan McPlant generates the equivalent of four London-Paris flights in CO2, the same as the Big Mac

The vegan McPlant is down in sixth with 1.5kg of CO2 per item each day, which is 183 tonnes, it’s only 24 grams better off than the Big Mac. This is the equivalent of four London-Paris flights in CO2. In terms of carbon-neutral McPlants that could be made every day if all UK McDonald’s orders were delivered by EVs, there would be 36,123.  

7. The Quarter Pounder with Cheese generates the equivalent of four London-Paris flights in CO2

In seventh place is the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, generating 170 tonnes of CO2 each day across all UK restaurants, the equivalent of four London-Paris flights like all of the menu items researched so far apart from the McNuggets Sharebox and Chicken Big Mac. A daily total of 39,673 carbon-neutral Quarter Pounders with Cheese could be created from the switch to EV deliveries. 

8. One of the UK’s most loved breakfast items the Sausage & Egg McMuffin generates the equivalent of three London-Paris flights in CO2

In eighth place, one of the more eco-friendly menu items is the Sausage & Egg McMuffin a Mcdonald’s breakfast favourite. Per day across all UK restaurants, they create 163 tonnes of CO2 emissions the equivalent of three London-Paris flights. If deliveries were made in all-electric cars 41,850 carbon-neutral Sausage & Egg McMuffins could be created every morning.  

9. The Filet-o-Fish is Mcdonalds’ least environmentally harmful burger generating the equivalent of three London-Paris flights in CO2

For the least environmentally harmful burger, get a Filet-o-Fish which per day creates 1.1kg of CO2 or 139 tonnes. This is the equivalent of three London-Paris flights, one less flight than its burger rivals including McPlant, Big Mac, and McCrispy. There could be 52,392 carbon-neutral fillet-o-fish burgers created each day just by switching to EV deliveries. 

10. Mozzarella Dippers generates the equivalent of two London-Paris flights in CO2 emissions, the least environmentally harmful out of the 10 menu items

A portion of mozzarella dippers is the only item to come in below a kilo of CO2 emissions. However, even that produces 818g of CO2 through production and delivery, or up to 101 tonnes across the UK each day which is the equivalent of two London-Paris flights. Per day a huge 84,733 carbon-neutral Mozzarella Dippers could be created by switching to all electric-car deliveries.