News

McDonald's sustainability goals include 100% more fruit and veggies

May 6, 2014

McDonald's Corp. has released its inaugural "2020 Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Framework" in conjunction with the company's 2012-2013 CSR & Sustainability Report. The framework, titled "Our Journey Together. For Good." features five areas of focus: Food, sourcing, planet, people and community.

According to a news release, to create the plans, the company consulted with suppliers, franchisees, customers and sustainability experts and organizations. Among McDonald's goals outlined in the framework are:

• Supporting sustainable beef production by collaborating to develop global principles and criteria, and committing to begin purchasing a portion of beef from verified sustainable sources in 2016;
• Sourcing 100 percent of coffee, palm oil and fish that is verified to support sustainable production;
• Procuring 100 percent of fiber-based packaging from certified or recycled sources;
• Serving 100 percent more fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy or whole grains in nine of its top markets;
• Increasing in-restaurant recycling to 50 percent and minimizing waste in nine of its top markets;
• Increasing energy efficiency in company-owned restaurants by 20 percent in seven of its top markets.

"In our new framework, we are focusing on the areas that are core to our business and that can make a real difference," J.C. Gonzalez-Mendez, SVP of Global Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability and Philanthropy, said in the release. "For instance, we are breaking new ground with our collaborative effort to source sustainable beef. We will continue to work with multiple stakeholders to develop practical solutions to increase recycling in our restaurants and across the industry. We will continue to meet our customers' needs for choice and balanced menu options, including fruits and vegetables."

Bob Langert, McDonald's VP of Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability, added that this framework puts the company on the path to mainstreaming sustainability.

"In addition to catapulting momentum on key social and environmental issues, the difference McDonald's can make is bringing sustainability to the masses, making it part of our everyday business life and the lives of our customers," he said.