Close×

McDonald's Canada has turned its cardboard drink trays into portable speakers for smartphones as part of a limited release at a beach on Toronto.

Through a partnership with the University of Waterloo’s Audio Research Group and industry design company Stacklab, the McDonald’s Boombox was created with no electronics involved. 

mcdonalds-boombox-recyclable-drink-trays-designboom-1800.jpg

Instead, it takes the sound coming from a smartphone’s speakers and increases them by amping up the sound pressure levels via the cardboard speaker enclosure.

The boxes are only available for a limited time at Toronto’s Woodbine Beach, as a way of 'bumping up the volume' while enjoying a burger.

Food & Drink Business

With food and beverage manufacturing the third largest energy user of manufacturing industries in Australia, the Australian Food and Grocery Council says funding from the Victorian government to help companies transition to renewable energy is a positive move.

As the 2024/25 dairy season draws to a close, Australian production is down in key regions and geopolitical uncertainty leaves the global market remaining volatile, according to Maxum Foods’ June Dairy Commodity Update and Rabobank’s 2025/26 Australian Dairy Market Outlook.

Welcome to the June/July issue of Food & Drink Business magazine. We catch-up on the latest for the RTD market with Lion's director of RTD and Spirits, Albertus Lombard, and furthering our Beverage Business feature T Garage provides its insights on natural beverages and opportunities for brands. And while winter is upon us, it is certainly not dampening the joy and success of this year's Hive Awards as our wrap-up and gallery attest. These stories and so much more are ready for your reading. Enjoy.