Wednesday 21 March 2018

McDonald’s fries towards sustainability

McDonald’s has committed to reducing its global emissions by 150 million metric tons before 2030, a reduction of more than a third compared with 2015.

The fast food retailer’s goals have been approved under the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTI), which aims to help companies align themselves with the climate obligations set out in the Paris Agreement.

The burger chain said it plans to switch lighting at its outlets to LEDs, install more energy-efficient kitchen equipment and step up its sustainable packaging and recycling efforts.

It also announced it will prioritise moving towards more sustainable beef production – cow farms produce significant amounts of emissions, consume a lot of water and are generally energy intensive.

CEO Steve Easterbrook said: “To create a better future for our planet, we must all get involved. McDonald’s is doing its part by setting this ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address the challenge of global climate change.

“To meet this goal, we will source our food responsibly, promote renewable energy and use it efficiently and reduce waste and increase recycling.”