Boracay, Philippines, has long been hailed as one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Because of decades of overtourism, it has transformed from a paradise to a cesspool. The average person on the island produces 2.25 kg of trash every day. In 2018, the government imposed a 6-month closure for the island’s rehabilitation.

Upon the island’s reopening, McDonald’s wanted to educate both tourists and locals about the importance of minimizing their plastic waste by introducing a lifestyle change. Through this one small act, each person could potentially contribute to the continuous restoration of the island.

McDonald’s was aware of its environmental impact on the island. As they joined the campaign to rehabilitate the island, the McDonald’s Un-Plastic Bags were created -- beach bags that served as the symbol of their commitment to promoting a culture of sustainability, not just in their stores, or on the island, but wherever the environment needed a helping hand.

The brand wanted their customers to unlearn their dependence on single-use plastics and to develop a mindfulness that they will carry out by themselves, making better choices for the environment anywhere they may go.

McDonald’s innovative use of its logo’s iconic arches to redesign the bag’s handles made it easily recognizable because of its unique feature. Distributed on the opening day of their stores, each bag turned hundreds of customers into supporters of the sustainable movement taking shape on the island.

Mcdonald’s has succeeded in becoming one of the brands leading the campaign for a cleaner Boracay. Approximately 20,000 single-use plastics are being used at the brand’s restaurant every month. Since the reopening of the branch located in the island last October 2018, almost 50, 000 single-use plastics have been reduced.