Playmobil launches 95% sugarcane-based plastic toys in Happy Meals

In Germany, Playmobil and McDonald’s are taking a joint step in the use of sustainable play material. From May, Playmobil animal figures made from at least 95 percent sugar cane-based plastic will be included in the Happy Meal® for the first time. The restaurant chain had been looking for bio-based material for over two years in order to ensure the high quality and durability requirements during production.

The 14 animal figures are produced entirely by McDonald’s and its experienced partners and expand the well-known Wiltopia play world. This range already consists of 80 percent recycled fridges and shares knowledge about animals and the ecosystem. “Playmobil stands for a sustainable play experience. We are pursuing various approaches to continuously increase the proportion of non- primarily fossil-based plastics in the entire range. We are increasingly using plant-based materials,” explains Playmobil CEO, Bahri Kurter. The company’s long-term goal is to make all business models circular in order to establish a material cycle that is as closed as possible.

For Playmobil, the collaboration with McDonald’s is a milestone in the strategy heading into the future. “In Germany in particular, Playmobil is a brand that is associated with quality and great educational play value. This fits in perfectly with the high standards we set for on our Happy Meal toys. We are also proud of the sugar cane-based raw material that we are using for the first time, as it is another important step on the way to a better McDonald’s,” says Tomasz Debowski, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at McDonald’s Germany.