A Welsh packaging company that will be supplying paper straws to McDonald’s has been granted £500,000.

The Welsh Government is providing the funding over three years to Transcend Packaging, which produces a range of products from paper straws to folding cartons and has put together a team of industry specialists focused on creating sustainable packaging solutions

The grant will support the expansion of the company – helping create around 102 new jobs – as a growing number of businesses are making the switch to paper and alternative material straws in a bid to tackle plastic pollution.

The fast food giant pledged to start phasing out plastic straws from its UK restarurants earlier this year – the Welsh company will start producing the paper alternatives this summer.

Lorenzo Angelucci, Managing Director of Transcend Packaging said: “By working in partnership with local and regional government, leading companies and the wider public, we are able to provide innovative packaging solutions that help preserve a healthy environment.”