Arcos Dorados Holdings, an independent McDonald's franchisee, is attempting to phase out plastics, PFAS chemicals, and consumer waste in the fast food industry by adding J&J Green Paper's "all-natural" barrier coating to its paper food packaging.

J&J Green Paper's JANUS coating is said to be 100% biodegradable, recyclable, home-compostable, and resistant to oil, water, and oxygen. It aims to avoid the negative effects of single-use plastics and PFAS chemicals on human health and the environment and replace the conventional polyethylene covering made from petroleum. Fast-food establishments will use the coating on their wrap paper, cartons, cups, cutlery, K-cups, straws, and other food packaging. In the main hamburger bags and wrappers, the change has already started.

“By taking action together, no matter how small it may seem, we can achieve a great impact and a sustainable future,” Arcos Dorados stated in its press release. “Every little action contributes.“ That’s why Arcos Dorados Argentina, the largest McDonald’s franchise in the world and which operates the brand in Argentina, began to implement a change in the primary bags and wrappers of hamburgers. The company incorporates the 100% renewably sourced JANUS compound that is biodegradable, compostable, and suitable for recycling.

Rick Bulman, CEO of J&J Green Paper, continued: “We are pleased to take a leadership role in introducing JANUS technology into the global food and beverage industry with Arcos Dorados and Mc Papers. We see the incorporation of viable green technologies like JANUS into that ecosystem as a pivotal step towards our shared vision of a healthy, sustainable future devoid of toxic materials. “JANUS technology is the foundation of an emerging ecosystem in the food and beverage industry that replaces petroleum-based materials, plastic, and chemicals, with eco-friendly, non-toxic alternatives, to eliminate hazards and improve our quality of life."


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Almost everyday, we come across the disastrous impact of nanoplastics on human health. The JANUS approach combats the hazards of plastic in paper and food packaging right away by using waste that would otherwise be discarded. Kemira and PA Consulting unveiled a sustainable barrier coating material based on polysaccharide chains earlier this year. It is said to be compatible with the current supply chain infrastructure and designed for flexible food packaging, to satisfy the growing demand for environmentally friendly packaging options.

Going green is becoming more and more necessary for businesses in the current business environment; it is no longer just a fad. This perspective can have a lot of unintended benefits, even while many businesses are implementing eco-friendly strategies to meet their social obligations.

Since then, Berry Global's thermoformed tubes, jars, and bottles have been coated with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company's MXD6 barrier coating. It is believed that the reusable, EVOH-free barrier resin will increase the shelf life of food items and solve the deterioration, contamination, and other problems related to EVOH's recyclability and reprocessing. Additionally, Archroma has introduced a water-based barrier coating free of PFAS. When applied on flexible paper packaging and folding box boards for food or non-food items, it is recyclable, repellent, and oil and grease-resistant.

Going green benefits the environment as well as businesses. Businesses can realize their full potential, lessen their influence on the environment, and provide the foundation for a sustainable future by implementing eco-friendly practices. Environmental responsibility is becoming more and more important to all stakeholders, and long-term business success requires incorporating sustainability into operations.