McDonald’s, one of the world’s biggest restaurant franchise, is taking a step towards preserving the environment – specifically, by saving the bees.
As we all know, bees play a major role in the healthy functioning of the planet’s ecosystems. They are responsible for pollinating about three-quarters of the world’s plants, making them an invaluable element in our food systems.
However, climate change and pesticide use have been causing a decline in bee populations – a dangerous phenomenon which has the potential to significantly damage worldwide crop production.
In an effort to shed light on the matter, McDonald’s Sweden teamed up with the ad agency Nord DDB to create what they’ve dubbed as “the world’s smallest McDonald’s”.
But the restaurant franchise didn’t build it for humans to use – they built it to serve as a home for bees.
The “McHive” – as the faux restaurant has been named – looks exactly like a real McDonald’s, but when you open it up, a fully-functioning beehive is revealed.
The replica was completed with impressive detail. It’s equipped with a signage, seating, drive-thru bays and, of course, the iconic golden arches.
The idea for the McHive began with a single McDonald’s Sweden location that installed a beehive in its roof. Others followed suit and now, five branches of the restaurant franchise have put up beehives. More locations plan to join in the cause, with some even “replacing the grass around their restaurants with flowers and plants that are important for the wellbeing of wild bees,” Nord DDB said.
Although it might be the tiniest in its category, the beehive has enough room to house thousands of bees.
In honor of the World Bee Day on May 20, the McHive was sold at an auction during a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House charities. It sold for over $10,000.
Christoffer Rönnblad, marketing director for McDonald’s Sweden, said in a statement:
“We have a lot of really devoted franchisees who contribute to our sustainability work, and it feels good that we can use our size to amplify such a great idea as beehives on the rooftops.
This miniature McDonald’s is a tribute to franchisee Christina Richter’s initiative.”
Check out the video below to see how the McHive was put together.
This is definitely a great initiative! Here’s to hoping that this buzz about beehives spread beyond Swedish lands.