McDonald's McDLT split its burger in two boxes — the planet hated the packaging

The McD.L.T. — short for McDonald's Lettuce and Tomato — was a hamburger launched by McDonald's in 1985. What set it apart was its packaging: a dual-compartment styrofoam clamshell that kept the patty and bottom bun on one side (the 'hot side') and the lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, sauces, and top bun on the other (the 'cool side'). Consumers assembled the burger themselves just before eating, ensuring a hot patty and crisp vegetables in every bite. McDonald's patented the design (US4653685A) and backed it with a memorable tagline: 'Keep the hot side hot and the cool side cool.'

The burger was promoted with high-profile television commercials featuring a young Jason Alexander (before Seinfeld made him a star), Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler, and Janet Hubert. The product was available across the United States and seemed to have strong brand support from McDonald's. But the dual-compartment container had a hidden cost: it was made entirely of styrofoam, and environmental opposition to disposable styrofoam packaging was mounting in the late 1980s.

In 1990 — after just five years on the market — McDonald's discontinued the McDLT. The culprit was not the burger itself but the packaging: environmental concerns about styrofoam's impact on landfills and the ozone layer made the oversized clamshell untenable. McDonald's was under growing pressure from environmental groups to eliminate styrofoam, and the McDLT's distinctive box was the most visible target. Rather than redesign the packaging, the company dropped the product entirely.