McDonald’s outlines plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than one-third by 2030

by XPRESS, 21 March 2018

The company is adding LED lights and more efficient kitchen equipment such as grills and fryers in a bid to reduce emissions at its restaurants and offices.

Changes to beef production, meanwhile, will lower greenhouse gases from the company’s supply chain by 31%.

Suppliers are experimenting with new paddock-style grazing practices, in which herds are rotated across sections of pasture allowing the land to recover and reducing gases released by cattle.

McDonald’s said the combined target had been approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which it said was a first for a restaurant company.

The SBTi is a collaboration between World Resources Institute, World Wildlife Fund, CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) and the United Nations Global Compact, which helps companies determine how much they must cut emissions to play their part in addressing climate change.

McDonald’s chief executive 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, reduce waste and increase recycling.”

The environmental move follows the goal McDonald’s set earlier this year to recycle rubbish at all its 37,000 restaurants globally by 2025.

As part of that effort, McDonald’s said it would make some food packaging more environmentally friendly.

It has also pledged to help protect water supplies, promote animal welfare and preserve forests at cattle ranches that supply its beef.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s said it had reached a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board, which accused the company of unfair labour practices as “joint employer” of its franchisees’ workers.

McDonald’s did not reveal specifics about the settlement, only restating its position it “is not and never has been a joint employer with its franchisees”.

McDonald’s said the agreement was subject to final approval by the Administrative Law Judge.

Article credit: Propel info