Fast food chain, McDonald’s is to offer a vegan burger to its customers in Finland and Sweden to address climate change. McDonald’s is the single-largest purchaser of Irish beef by volume, with one in five burgers sold by McDonald’s in Europe coming from Ireland.

The McVegan is a soya bean burger. According to McDonalds, as the main ingredient is plant-based, it is considered to have a smaller climate impact.

Global sales of vegan-labelled foods increased by nearly 8% last year to $12.8bn, according to research firm Euromonitor. McDonald’s said the burger is in response to more people wanting to eat plant-based food that is better for the environment.