McDonald’s has pledged to achieve net zero emissions across its Irish and UK business by 2040.
The fast food chain said it will reach net zero — meaning it emits no more greenhouse gases than it absorbs through its business — across the world by the middle of the century.
In the UK and Ireland its net-zero target has been set a decade earlier.
In November, the company plans to open a new burger restaurant in Shropshire which will be built to a “UK industry net-zero emissions standard”.
The site will be a blueprint for other new-build McDonald’s in the future, it said.
Today we launch our Plan for Change, ambitious commitments designed to accelerate our positive impact on the climate & our communities 🌍
Read more below and on our website: https://t.co/BhOpHsngfC pic.twitter.com/GsM7zMtrXU— McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) October 4, 2021
From 2023 all new furniture in McDonald’s sites will be made with recycled or certified materials, and will be designed to be recycled or reused when no longer needed.
Packaging will also be made with materials that are renewable, recycled or from certified sources by 2024.
The goals are in line with the Science Based Targets initiative.
McDonald’s UK and Ireland chief executive Paul Pomroy said: “McDonald’s has a long history of taking action where it really matters to the communities we serve. But we are at a moment now where we need to accelerate our ambition and work even harder to look after each other and the planet.
“This new plan for change is not just our sustainability strategy, it’s our business priority.
“That means it isn’t a plan for one change, but for many — changes that together, with 1,400 restaurants, over 130,000 people, 23,000 British and Irish farmers and four million customers visiting every day, really will add up.”
We want all of our customer packaging to be made from renewable, recycled or certified sources.
And we want our waste to have a second life - from coffee cups into greetings cards, Happy Meal toys into playgrounds and much more ♻️ pic.twitter.com/JNBkevIt0OAdvertisement— McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) October 4, 2021
