#Burger King to roll out reusable burger boxes, cups

Burger King plans to start testing reusable burger boxes and cups next year as part of its efforts to reduce waste.

Diners in New York City, Tokyo and Portland, Oregon will be able to ask for their sandwich or drink in a sturdy, “zero-waste” container that can be cleaned and used multiple times, the fast-food chain announced Thursday.

But there are strings attached — customers who take home their Whopper box will have to put down a deposit that will be refunded whenever they return the container to a participating restaurant, Burger King said.

The pilot program — which Burger King expects to expand to more cities after its initial rollout — is a partnership with Loop, a “circular packaging service” run by New Jersey-based recycling firm TerraCycle. Burger King didn’t say what materials will be used to make the containers, but it promised each one will be “hygienically cleaned” before it’s reused.

“The Loop system gives us the confidence in a reusable solution that meets our high safety standards, while also offering convenience for our guests on the go,” Matthew Banton, Burger King Global’s head of innovation and sustainability, said in a statement.

The take-home boxes are part of Burger King’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact. The Restaurant Brands International-owned chain said it plans to source all of its guest packaging from renewable, recycled or certified sources by 2025.

Burger King also launched a greener version of its signature Whopper burger in July that’s made from cows fed with a special diet that helps them fart and burp less methane, a greenhouse gas that’s contributing to climate change.

Restaurant Brands shares were up 0.4 percent at $56.71 as of 11:56 a.m. Thursday.