Day 003 - 30 Jun 94 - Page 28
1 draw your attention, Mr. Preston, at this stage. So if
you would kindly put it away. I want to ask you some
2 questions now about some of the issues which have been
raised in this case, some of which you will notice make no
3 appearance in the leaflet whatsoever. One of those is the
subject of polystyrene foam, which you will have noticed
4 does not get any kind of mention in the leaflet?
A. Yes.
5
Q. However, the defendants assert that McDonald's use of
6 polystyrene foam in different parts of the world to
package its food is damaging to the environment; mostly,
7 it is said, because its use has damaged the ozone layer.
Are you conscious of that allegation?
8 A. I am conscious of the allegation, yes.
9 Q. It is right that so far as this country is concerned,
polystyrene is used for the clam shells that cover the
10 hamburgers?
A. Yes.
11
Q. For some of the cups that are used for hot drinks?
12 A. Yes, hot drink cups.
13 Q. Anything else?
A. No, that is really it I think.
14
Q. Are you conscious that in 1988 something called the
15 Montreal Protocol declared that the use of CFCs in the
world had caused damage or was causing damage to the ozone
16 layer?
A. I am conscious of their comments, yes.
17
Q. At that date, had McDonald's suppliers of polystyrene foam
18 been using CFCs?
A. We in the early days of polystyrene here, expanded
19 polystyrene, never used CFCs at all. We used CFCs for a
period of about 18 months and switched.
20
Q. What had they used before they used CFCs for 18 months?
21 A. HCFCs I think.
22 Q. No, that came after actually, if I may contradict you.
A. In the very early days here we used cardboard, we used
23 paper; the packaging in the early days of Britain was
paper. We went to polystyrene some time after. It was
24 expanded with pentane.
25 Q. Which is a hydrocarbon?
A. It is a hydrocarbon. Then we switched to CFCs for a
26 period of about 18 months. Following this protocol,
although the protocol said HCFCs were something which
27 could be used, we ignored that and went back to pentane
which was immune from all this protocol.
28
Q. I want to pass briefly on from there while still with
29 polystyrene foam to a slightly more general question.
What is your company's policy? I start at a different
30 place, if I may, I am sorry. It would be right to suggest
that an organisation like McDonald's, I expect you would
