As part of its commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, McDonald's partnered with our team to reimagine the interior design of its restaurants through the lens of sustainability. The goal was to create a bold and forward-thinking concept that not only looks great but meaningfully supports McDonald's circularity goals. “With this concept we want to show that sustainable design can be bold and fun and make a huge difference at the same time,” said Ruud, our creative director.

To track and improve circularity in restaurant design, McDonald’s developed a measurement index in collaboration with sustainability consultancy Anthesis. The challenge was to significantly boost this score while maintaining an inviting, functional, and brand-consistent space. Traditional décor elements like glued laminates, powder coatings, and non-recyclable materials posed a major hurdle to sustainable reuse and recycling, requiring a complete rethink of how materials are selected, assembled, and disassembled.

We created a sustainable décor model built on the principles of simplicity and disassembly. Mechanical fixings replaced glue, allowing each component to be separated and sorted by material type for easier recycling or reuse. Over 80% of the wood is PEFC certified, powder coatings were eliminated, and recycled plastics were used throughout the furniture. Laminates were removed wherever possible, and all lighting fixtures were designed for longevity with replaceable LED chips. As Stephen Douglas, VP of Global Restaurant Design at McDonald’s, stated, “Our new McDonald’s restaurant design bridges creativity and sustainability... providing a sunny outlook to the future of how we will be feeding and fostering community.”