By 2025, all of McDonald's Packaging to Come from Renewable, Recycled or Certified Sources; Goal to Have Recycling Available ...
16 January 2018 - 8:00PM
YASTEST
OAK BROOK, Ill., Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Today, McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) announces goals to improve its
packaging and help significantly reduce waste to positively impact
the communities the company serves around the
world.
By 2025, 100 percent of McDonald's guest packaging
will come from renewable, recycled, or certified sources with a
preference for Forest Stewardship Council certification. Also by
2025, the company has set a goal to recycle guest packaging in 100
percent of McDonald's restaurants. McDonald's understands that
recycling infrastructure, regulations and consumer behaviors vary
city to city and country to country around the world, but it plans
to be part of the solution and help influence powerful change.
This expands upon McDonald's existing goal that by
2020, 100% of fiber-based packaging will come from recycled or
certified sources where no deforestation occurs.
"As the world's largest restaurant company, we
have a responsibility to use our scale for good to make changes
that will have a meaningful impact across the globe," said
Francesca DeBiase, McDonald's Chief Supply Chain and Sustainability
Officer. "Our customers have told us that packaging waste is the
top environmental issue they would like us to address. Our ambition
is to make changes our customers want and to use less packaging,
sourced responsibly and designed to be taken care of after use,
working at and beyond our restaurants to increase recycling and
help create cleaner communities."
To reach these goals, McDonald's will work with
leading industry experts, local governments and environmental
associations, to improve packaging and recycling practices.
Together they will work to drive smarter packaging designs,
implement new recycling programs, establish new measurement
programs and educate restaurant crew and customers.
As Tom Murray, Vice President of EDF+Business at
Environmental Defense Fund noted, "Nearly three decades ago,
McDonald's and EDF teamed up to tackle solid waste and accelerate
innovation in packaging. Along the way, we pioneered a new
partnership model for companies and nonprofit organizations. Today,
McDonald's continues to raise the sustainability bar by setting
ambitious goals and collaborating with partners across the value
chain for maximum impact."
"McDonald's global preference for Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) certified materials demonstrates their
far-reaching commitment to source packaging that benefits people
and forests around the world," said Kim Carstensen, director
general of the Forest Stewardship Council. "The partnership between
McDonald's and FSC - the world's most trusted certification of
forests and forest products - also creates a uniquely powerful
opportunity for McDonald's to engage customers about simple ways to
protect forests," he added.
Adds Sheila Bonini, Senior Vice President, Private
Sector Engagement, World Wildlife Fund, "Smarter waste management
begins with improved sourcing, increased value chain collaboration
and better communication with customers. Today's announcement
demonstrates McDonald's strong leadership in developing packaging
and recycling solutions at a scale that can extend the life of our
natural resources and push its industry toward more sustainable
practices."
McDonald's first began its focus on sustainable
packaging nearly 25 years ago with the establishment of the
groundbreaking partnership with EDF. The initiative eliminated more
than 300 million pounds of packaging, recycled 1 million tons of
corrugated boxes and reduced waste by 30 percent in the decade
following the partnership. In 2014, the company joined WWF's Global
Forest & Trade Network program and set its fiber sourcing
targets, including FSC preference for packaging made from wood
fiber.
Currently, 50 percent of McDonald's customer
packaging comes from renewable, recycled or certified sources and
64 percent of fiber-based packaging comes from certified or
recycled sources. Also, an estimated 10 percent of McDonald's
restaurants globally are recycling customer packaging.
"We look forward to doing more and continuing to
raise the bar on what it means to be a responsible company
committed to people and the planet," DeBiase said.
About
McDonald's
McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with
over 37,000 locations in over 100 countries. Over 90 percent of
McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by
independent local business men and women.
MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Altmin,
847-542-2700
lauren.altmin@us.mcd.com
This
announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf
of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: McDonald's Corporation via Globenewswire
McDonalds (NYSE:MCD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
McDonalds (NYSE:MCD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024