Over the years, McDonald’s commitment towards sustainability has become an increasing concern for the customers. The idea was to create a new Happy Meal packaging that uses sustainable materials to reduce the amount of plastic and waste while maintaining the function of the original packaging. The happy meal toy was to be replaced with a sustainable play object with some integration to the box to educate children on an important issue that aligns with McDonald’s core values.

Our Forest Planting Kit is designed to be multipurpose to maximize the function of the materials and minimize the waste. The outer box is a McDonald’s store with hidden surprises. Scanning a QR code on the side of the packaging will reveal an AR element that shows a time-lapse animation of a seed blooming into a beautiful tree.

Furthermore, the box also opens up to reveal the inside of a rich and colorful greenhouse. The food packaging is designed to be used as flower pots to reduce the waste produced after the meal has been consumed. Illustrations with information about the importance of forests are printed on the individual food packaging to educate children on the importance of forests and the solution to saving our forests.

An envelope is included with sunflower and daisy seeds, a paper animal origami set and illustrated instructions on how to use the packaging. The multipurpose packaging with playful surprises educates children on the importance of our forests and provides the tools for them to start their first planting experience.