KFC Canada transitioning to bamboo buckets

July 21, 2020, Vaughan, Ont. – KFC Canada has announced that all poutine and chicken bowls will permanently be served in bamboo buckets by the end of 2020, along with the goal of scaling the packaging solution to include all its buckets by the end of 2021.

The move to bamboo poutine buckets will see KFC Canada eliminate 55 tonnes of plastic waste annually. KFC’s other buckets are currently made from paper pulp.

“KFC has the most iconic packaging in the world,” said Armando Carrillo, innovation manager at KFC Canada. “As we looked to find a reliable and eco-friendly solution for our buckets, bamboo emerged as the winner.

“Bamboo is one of the most renewable and fastest growing materials, is naturally anti-bacterial and 100-per-cent biodegradable, requires no pesticides, and regenerates itself very quickly when harvested. Bamboo is one of many ways we’re keeping harmful waste out of Canadian landfills.”

KFC has been testing bamboo buckets in select Ontario and Quebec restaurants since November 2019 and received an overwhelmingly positive response from team members and customers.

“As a global brand, we have a tremendous responsibility to make a difference in the communities we operate in and to work collectively to make our planet a more sustainable place to live,” said Nivera Wallani, president and general manager of KFC Canada. “While we are incredibly proud of this achievement, we have more to do – and look forward to innovating further to bring additional eco-friendly solutions to our restaurants.”

Sustainability is not a new endeavor for KFC. In 2019, the company eliminated 50 million straws and 10 million plastic bags from all restaurants and committed to eliminating all non-recoverable and non-reusable plastic packaging by 2025 – spanning lids, cups, cutlery, and more.

KFC Canada operators more than 600 locations in Canada.