McDonald's UK&I Change Challenge 2026/2027

Inspire a Greener Future

McDonald's is working towards an ambition to reach net zero. With millions of customers, thousands of restaurants and complex supply chains, even small changes can have a big impact. One of the biggest drivers of restaurant emissions is waste – so McDonald's has set a target to embed circularity, and give restaurant waste a second life - but they cannot do this alone.

The University of Derby shares the net zero ambition. From its world-leading coral research to the recently launched Institute of Carbonomics, we are driving innovative solutions to global environmental challenges and inspiring the next generation to lead change.

Partnering with the University of Derby, McDonald's is calling on the next generation to tackle a global environmental challenge and help shape a more resilient future. Supporting McDonald's to give it's restaurant waste a second life, students will be asked to help shape a truly circular system.

The Competition: Think circular, win big!

Your mission

We're asking 16-18 year olds to create a three-minute video presenting your innovation to redesign McDonald's approach to circularity, helping customers to find recycling easy, engaging and making it truly circular – enabling new products to be made from recycled waste. This could be a new idea, design or incentive that drives lasting impact. Your ideas could spark real change in McDonald's restaurants across the UK.

Your video checklist

Use your video to clearly explain your idea and pitch how it could work in a real McDonald's UK&I restaurant.

1. Show that you understand the challenge. McDonald's already uses recycling points to separate paper, plastic, cups and food waste. How could they be even easier or more engaging to use?
2. Explain your idea clearly. This could be a new design, system or incentive that improves how customers recycle
3. Think about the customer experience. How does your idea make recycling simple, intuitive and hard to ignore in a busy restaurant?
4. Look beyond packaging. Could your idea also consider food waste, composting, or rethinking items like Happy Meal toys?
5. Show impact. Explain how your idea could help give waste a second life and make a real difference across McDonald's UK&I restaurants

What you can win

• £500 to kickstart your own environmentally friendly project at school or home
• An exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with McDonald's UK

The top five entries will also be invited to a VIP Awards Ceremony hosted by the University of Derby in Spring 2027.

The ceremony includes interactive sustainability workshops led by university experts, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aquatic Research Facility, Institute of Carbonomics and sustainability research facilities, plus a presentation of awards with representatives from McDonald's and the University of Derby.

How to enter

Ready to submit your Change Challenge entry? Please complete the competition entry form to share your team’s submission.

This form must be completed with full consent from each team member's parent or guardian. Please download our Parent Guardian Guarantee Form Change Challenge 2026-2027.pdf (downloads as a PDF) to sign and attach to the competition entry form with your submission. Submission of an entry implies acceptance of these terms and conditions. Information about how personal data is used, who it may be shared with and your rights can be found in the Competition Privacy Notice.

If you require the parent/guardian guarantee in an alternative format, please contact sclteam@derby.ac.uk.

Good luck with your entries - we are so excited to see your innovations!

Privacy Notice

The University of Derby will use the information provided through this Competition submission form to administer and manage the McDonald's UK&I Change Challenge 2026/2027, assess eligibility, review and judge Competition entries, communicate with entrants and participating schools or colleges, and organise Competition-related activities.

The University may share Competition entries and the information necessary to administer and judge the Competition with representatives of McDonald's UK&I and any independent party appointed to support the judging process.

Further information about how personal information is used, who it may be shared with and your rights can be found in the Competition Privacy Notice.