You’re never too young to take on two of the biggest corporations in the world over their environmental policies — and you don’t need a PhD or even a high school degree to do it.
Ella and Caitlin McEwan, two sisters from Southampton, UK, were troubled by how much plastic was being used to make the toys given out with McDonald’s Happy Meals and Burger King JR Meals, so they started a petition to fix the problem.
About 400,000 signatures later, they’ve actually managed to convince the two companies to work on reducing the number of plastic toys served with the meals.
In their petition, the girls wrote, “We like to go to eat at Burger King and McDonald’s, but children only play with the plastic toys they give us for a few minutes before they get thrown away and harm animals and pollute the sea.”
The BBC reported that Burger King has said that they will try removing the toys for a trial, and work towards a more sustainable approach by 2020, while McDonald’s said they would be moving to alternatives like books, board games and soft toys.
Before the petition, the sisters appeared on a BBC documentary called War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita. (No, not Hugh Grant — a different British Hugh.) They took a trailer full of plastic toys to the McDonald’s headquarters, but were lead off the premises by a security guard. Oh, and by the way, Ella and Caitlin are nine and seven years old, respectively.
After the incident on the show, the people of Britain were firmly in the girls’ corner.
See below for an inside look on the reaction to the fast food giants questionable responses to the youngsters plea for sustainable packaging, after learning about the harm that plastic does to wildlife and the environment.
@McDonalds I’m just catching up with War on Plastic with Hugh & Anita. Oh dear how proud are you of the way you treated the two girls who wanted to highlight your plastic toy waste and give you a petition. Absolutely disgraceful behaviour.
— Michelle (@ShellMG) June 29, 2019
Safe to say they were not happy.
Watched War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita, where school girls Ella and Caitlin were made to cry by a security bully at McDonald's Headquarters. We will not be buying from McDonalds again.
— Charlena Lilu Gouri Guha-Thakurta-Graham (@CLGGTG) June 26, 2019
It’s been dubbed a PR disaster for McDonald’s.
@McDonalds just saw your treatment of BBC documentary team and the two young girls with them at your head office. What an embarrassment getting security to kick them off your property. They wanted to give in a petition against plastic toy giveaways. Brilliant PR. 👍🏻
— Martin (@thebigcup67) June 24, 2019
But, Burger King came out looking slightly better.
Yesterday I finally finished watching the War on Plastic thing and WOW is it hilarious how McDonald's showed their arse. They could've done what Burger King did and make vague promises, but instead they got two little kids booted out by security! 😂 #Imlovinit
— Kate Griffin (@griffinkate) July 21, 2019
McDonald’s apologized…
Hi Andy, We apologise to Caitlin and Ella, the way they were treated when they arrived at our office was unacceptable and this situation will be reviewed internally. We have failed them at every point and they should have had a response to their concerns.
— McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) June 26, 2019
Repeatedly — but some weren’t buying it.
They’ve lost at least one Twitter user to their arch rival!
It’s bad timing for the latest range of McDonald’s toys.
Many people — especially parents — have been applauding the girls’ efforts to save the world.
About time the plastic toys went. My chuldten still love a Happy Meal but hate the plastic rubbish that comes with it. They'd support this 📚
— Living on a Rock in the Sea (@Mereite) July 23, 2019
They’re even making adults think about things differently.
Inspired by the incredibly eloquent young girls on BBC's War on Plastic who are fighting McDonalds to stop giving out pointless plastic toys in happy meals! Love their comment too about supermarket packaging "these bananas are already packaged by nature"! #OurPlasticFeedback
— Emily Orlik (@EmilyOrlik) June 25, 2019
Other kids are inspired too.
Overheard two c. 4-yr-old twins say (and repeat, twice) on Camden Street: “mum, I don’t want a happy meal. I don’t want the plastic!” Yess! We need more twins to save this world!
— Marketa Uhlirova (@uhlirovahunter) July 23, 2019
They’re even finding other ways for McDonald’s to cut back on plastic (such a helpful generation!).
At breakfast this morning my 5yo decided to write to @McDonaldsUK asking them not to use little plastic bottles with his happy meal - he’d rather have a cup of water. That’s a lot of writing for a 5yo boy before school! Please think about making a change @McDonalds pic.twitter.com/56IYskmYKs
— Emily Dingle (@GravestockEmily) July 17, 2019
Although it turns out others have been concerned for a while, according to this former McDonald’s worker:
Watching Hugh's War on Plastic about the Maccy D toys. When you get a Happy Meal just say at the till you don't want the toy and give it back straight away. When I worked there in the 90s people did this all the time. Lets do this! #OurPlasticFeedback
— Kath Olukoya (@KEOlukoya) July 21, 2019
Meanwhile, since this is Twitter, some members of the older generation are playing the “kids today” card…
@McDonalds @BurgerKing When will it ever STOP! This society will NEVER BE HAPPY! I enjoyed the #HappyMealTOYS as a kid but now two little white girls are unhappy... Then STOP buying the meals and go eat some ham sandwiches & read a book!https://t.co/6Df0OXPPDA
— OneLuvSports (@OneLuvSports) July 22, 2019
It’s worth noting that the girls are campaigning to replace the toys with books, but you just feel those feelings.
Other adults — presumably those who don’t hang out with environmentally conscious kids — are skeptical.
I haven't come across one child that has NOT wanted a Happy meal, Burger King, Kinder egg, comic book etc free plastic toy because it is bad for the environment. EVER
— 🇬🇧💕🇬🇧Gail 🇬🇧💕🇬🇧 (@GailNie86965461) July 22, 2019
Yes, we have actual adults whining about having their toys taken away…
No. McDonald's toys are not the only plastic toys in the world. They are a very small percentage of them. Following the "war on straws" that has given us those yucky cardboard straws, this is trend is scary where it will go.
— Roger Ford (@RogerFord86) July 9, 2019
This year has been a pivotal one for plastic in the UK: plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds will be banned from April 2020. Assuming the companies live up to their promises, it looks like plastic toys could be next.
