Fastfood chains hit for using non-biodegradable materials

Religious devotees slammed the popular fast food company McDonald’s for being unfriendly to the environment in its continued use of plastics and styrofoam.

Devotees of St. Francis de Assisi, the patron saint of ecology, trooped to corporate offices of the fastfood chain company in Makati City to demand a stop on the use of plastics and styrofoam in packaging and serving of meals in its restaurants in the Philippines.

Some 100 members of five different groups led by the Kaalagad Katipunang Kristiyano even staged a motorcade from Ayala Avenue to the Citibank Tower in Paseo de Roxas where the corporate head office of McDonald’s is based.

McDonald’s, on the other hand, issued a statement belying the claims made by the group.

"McDonald’s Philippines is committed to protecting the environment. We have in fact, phased-in paper-based packaging for our most saleable product Chicken McDo, (which) is now served in a paper tray and soon will be served in recyclable, reusable baskets," the statement said.

The fastfood chain giant said they are the largest users of recycled paper products in their packaging.

Environment groups were joined by the city government’s mascot "Basyong Basura" in the effort to stress how the city government supports their call on McDonald’s.

They urged the fastfood giant against using disposable plastics and styrofoam materials that pose hazards to the health of consumers and contribute to flooding and pollution.

In what was supposed to be a short program to highlight their petition to McDonald’s president Kenneth Young, the occasion was marked by a bitter exchange of words with security officials and several employees of the fastfood company.

Folk singer Gary Granada and Fr. Ben Moraleda figured in heated arguments with security officers of Citibank Tower, where the corporate headquarters of McDonald’s are based.

The argument erupted when the group were initially told by the guards that no one among the company officials was present to receive the petition.

The group claimed they had earlier sent notice since Sept. 15 but it was simply ignored, prompting them to picket the McDonald’s premises located at the 17th floor of the building.

"This is not a rally, this is a celebration," Moraleda said in describing the activity staged in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis de Assisi.

Granada said they are not singling out McDonald’s but other fastfood outlets as well who will not respond to their call.