Black copy regarding toy sustainability on a black background

PLAYMOBIL Happy Meal® Toys

More of our Happy Meal® toys are made from plant-based PE as a result of the material trials we began in 2025.

We've had a play

Happy Meal® Toys have been providing children with hours of play time over the past 39 years in the UK, and we want to ensure the toys and books we offer are fun, engaging and durable.

That’s why we’re testing a new approach to help us choose the right material for the right toy.

This move is the latest in an ongoing journey, and we are committed to continuing our research and development to find the best possible materials that produce great toys, while helping us work towards our global sustainability goals.

Playmobil characters on grass with trees in the background and the Happy Meal box with a yellow smile

The Science Bit

Our suppliers are using plant-based PE — a material made from a renewable source, sugarcane — to create some of our Happy Meal® toys. This move towards plant-based PE is part of our wider goal to drastically reduce plastics in Happy Meal® toys around the globe and transition to more sustainable materials by the end of 2025*. Here’s how it works…
A character holding a green on a light blue background

What is plant-based PE?

PE stands for polyethylene – a type of plastic commonly used in toys. Our plant-based PE is made using ethanol from sugarcane, a renewable crop. This material is used in place of virgin fossil fuel-based plastic.

cars being held and pushed into one another on a light blue background

Made to last – and made differently

We’re using plant-based PE to help ensure our toys are robust enough for hours of playtime – and to try new ways of making them with less reliance on virgin fossil fuel-based plastics.

A character dressed as a scientist holding 2 science beakers on a light blue background

Why it matters                                                                

Using materials like plant-based PE to make some of our Happy Meal® toys – rather than virgin fossil fuel-based plastics – supports our goal of transitioning to more sustainable materials by the end of 2025*.

Image of toys in a circular border with an arrow pointing to another circular border containing books.

Be a Wastebuster!

In the UK, we’ve teamed up with Wastebuster through the Recycle to Read programme to encourage families to rehome unwanted toys once they’ve finished playing with them, or recycle any old or broken small hard plastic toys.

Recycle to Read is a collective initiative that is building a new system for recycling plastic toys, while giving books to schools to support children’s literacy. Simply scan the QR code on one of the Recycle to Read collection bins to log your recycling, and you’ll earn Planet Care Points for registered schools that help them get free books. Find your nearest recycling point in the UK on the link below!

Find Out More

McDonald’s Happy Meal® Service Messages   

Water

The Nestle® PureLife® Spring Water (Still) 250ml bottled water advertised as a choice of drink included with each Happy Meal is only available in restaurants in Great Britain. Deep RiverRock™ 250ml bottled water is available as a substitute in restaurants in Northern Ireland.

End date

Until 14th October. From 11am. Includes one pre-selected book or toy. Range items available at different times, whilst stocks last. See mcdonalds.co.uk/happymeal. Bottled water may vary.

© 2025 geobra Brandstätter 

© 2025 McDonald’s. Happy Meal and the Happy Meal box design are trade marks of McDonald’s Corporation and its affiliates.

Little People, BIG DREAMS™ Alba &/or Beautifool Coiple, © 2025 Sánchez Vegara, various artists, licensed by Alba & Quarto.

Any changes to advertised services will be announced on this page (mcdonalds.co.uk/happymeal). Data charges may apply when accessing online content. Digital devices are not included.

*For plant-based plastics to be considered sustainable for McDonald’s, a minimum of 60% of plastic weight is required to come from recycled or renewable content or a combination of recycled and renewable content.

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