From Pizza Hut implementing recycled polypropylene into its wing bowls to KFC investing in reuse models, Yum! Brands’ latest sustainability report details the packaging progress of multiple fast food giants – but reveals ‘limitations’ in its data and transparency.
On its Packaging and Circularity page, the corporation states its intent to reduce virgin plastics and other raw materials, including eliminating non-recoverable plastics; redesign its packaging to improve recovery; incorporate recycled content into its materials; and eliminate intentionally added substances of concern.
Among these efforts was a target to eliminate unnecessary plastic, reduce virgin content by 10%, and transition its consumer-facing plastic packaging into reusable, recyclable, or compostable formats by 2025.
While the report states that ‘data limitations’ have affected its ability to quantify recycled and reclaimed materials in clear percentages, Yum! emphasizes its efforts to reduce overall usage and improve the recoverability of its packaging.
One example is the recyclable wing bowl introduced at Pizza Hut U.S. – thought to be America’s first instance of a large quick-service restaurant implementing food-contact polypropylene recyclate into its packaging. The move was said to unlock access to food-grade polypropylene on a ‘previously unattainable’ scale for recyclers and brands.
Pizza Hut also began to phase out small plastic components, such as its pizza box lid support, and introduced on-pack messaging and digital tools to walk consumers through local recycling processes.
At Habit Burger & Grill, steps to replace plastic packaging with fibre-based formats have included ASTM-compliant, commercially compostable salad and sandwich containers. This is believed to have reduced plastic consumption, improved operations, and resulted in a 4% cost savings for the brand.
Taco Bell and TerraCycle also claimed to have collected over 415,000 sauce containers and packets through the Taco Bell Sauce Container U.S. Recycling Program in 2025. The approach is believed to have diverted one million items from landfills and incinerators since 2021.
Also at Taco Bell, an in-restaurant waste reduction pilot sought to find new ways of reducing back- and front-of-house waste – an initiative that reportedly boosted the back-of-house recycling rate from 18% to 58%, as measured via a waste characterization audit.
Meanwhile, KFC is said to be investing in reusable packaging initiatives across select European markets. Introducing reuse models across dine-in, takeaway, and delivery channels is expected to address single-use waste and support more circular operations.
Yum! underlines its continued support of recycled and reclaimed materials in its packaging and utensils wherever technically feasible and permitted by local regulations. It emphasizes its focus on solutions that are practical for franchisees, maintain food safety and quality, and align with the realities of local waste and recoverability infrastructure.
Other approaches
Yum! points out its work alongside industry groups such as the NextGen Consortium, which seeks to address single-use food packaging waste globally – including through the development of a Widely Recyclable designation for polypropylene cups, as announced earlier this year.
Apparently, the partnership contributes to Yum!’s sustainability strategy by helping to fast-track innovation and fostering collaboration across the foodservice industry.
Through its Recipe for Good Growth strategy, the corporation also aspires to a 46% reduction in Scope 3 emissions per metric ton of chicken, beef, dairy, and packaging procured, compared to a 2019 base level. In 2025, it claims to have achieved a 15% reduction per metric ton.
The corporation is addressing its short-term Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements by tracking policy changes, working with suppliers on materials, and implementing sustainability-minded packaging formats into its supply chain operations – hoping to balance these efforts with its long-term goals.
To improve its supply chain visibility and overall transparency, Yum! is continuing to expand its Sedex tools and supplier self-assessment questionnaires (SAQs). Last year, KFC Western Europe had approximately 90% of all direct food, beverage and packaging suppliers maintain Sedex registration, while 80% completed the SAQ.
The corporation says that it will help stakeholders understand which data must be measured, which should be estimated, and where capacity is still being built.
Additionally, Yum! states that approximately 93% of required suppliers were GFSI-certified at the end of 2025; this included 94% of suppliers directly involved in manufacturing food and packaging.
“While we’ve made progress on our sustainable packaging journey, we know there’s still more to do and remain committed to building a more circular system and innovating on viable solutions for our business,” the report says.
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