Questions answered
There are 4 questions about “Fairtrade” in the “How do you operate?” topic.
Click on a question to read our answer.
- 1. As one of the largest food retailers in the world do you not think it's your responsability to promote ethical trade? Where is your fair trade food? Why do you buy cattle from South America where vast swathes of rainforest have been cut down?
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McDonald’s takes its global responsibility very seriously. The company has an ongoing policy of implementing practices throughout the whole food supply chain to ensure that the food is produced in an ethical and sustainable manner. McDonald’s has joined 19 other members of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, created by the food industry to improve conditions for local communities, and to preserve and improve the condition of natural resources. One new initiative is the launch of the Kenco Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee range. there’s more information about this at www.saiplatform.org - the Sustainable Agricultural Initiative Platform website. And in regards to your final question, McDonald’s has had a long-standing policy of not taking beef produced from recently deforested areas of the Amazon rainforest. For more information about McDonald’s global policies, you might like to visit http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/values/report.htm and read the McDonald’s Worldwide Corporate Responsibility Report.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 2. Is the food you use fair traid ?
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Fair trade is one of the best recognised endorsements used to indicate that suppliers and retailers are treating growers and local communities fairly. However, it is not the only one and not always the most effective. McDonald's has joined 19 other members of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, created by the food industry to improve conditions for local communities. If you would like further information on the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, please visit the web site at www.saiplatform.org.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 3. I hear the toys used in Happy Meals are made through child labour in the developing world. Surely you should use a Fair Trade manufacturer?
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McDonald's has strict procedures in place to ensure that all suppliers comply to its terms of business and this includes the manufacturers of the Happy Meal toys across Europe and the Far East. Inspections are made of all premises and special attention is given to workers' conditions. At the moment, there is no global standard that applies to this kind of manufacture but suffice it to say, the company refuses to work with any company that does not treat its employees well, pays unfairly and/or uses child-labour.
(May 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 4. Has McDonalds considered using Fair Trade Coffee and Tea, it might help your coporate image and show that you do care (which I never doubted)
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Fairtrade is indeed the most recognised mark to indicate that suppliers and retailers treat growers and local communities fairly. However, it is not the only one. McDonald’s has joined 19 other members of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, created by the food industry to improve conditions for local communities. If you would like further information on the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, please visit the web site at www.saiplatform.org, where you’ll find a specific section on coffee growing.
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