Questions answered
There are 27 questions about “Environment” in the “What are you doing about...” topic.
Click on a question to read our answer.
- 16. how does mcdonalds motivate staff?
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Thanks for your question. McDonald's believes that the combination of working in an energising environment, having flexibility at work that fits into the employees’ lifestyles and providing great promotion opportunities through various development and training programmes, keeps staff motivated. This, together with good benefits and salary package, means staff at McDonald's can look forward to an enjoyable and challenging career.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 17. Is policy for stores to save “Environment”? And how that? What is in the store to save the environment, like the technology [light?]
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Thank you for your question. We have been working hard to minimise energy consumption across all McDonald’s restaurants, both through new technology and through employee education. At present we implement a number of strategies in order to save energy, these are; to make every employee aware of the importance of reducing energy usage; do not introduce any new equipment with higher energy usage than the equipment that it is replacing and ensure that in meeting our future equipment needs, we utilise the most energy efficient technology available to us. Furthermore McDonald’s UK use a number of different low energy light bulbs and are always looking out for new ones to save even more energy.
For more information download our 16 page Environment Booklet by copying the link below into your browser. http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/static/pdf/ourworld/Environmental_Booklet_June_2008.pdf
(February 2010)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 18. what is Mcdonalds doing to reduce their carbon footprint?
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Thank you for your question. McDonald's takes environmental responsibilities very seriously. A major part of this is reducing the carbon footprint of the business, and work on this has been going on for several years now. This work falls into a couple of major areas:
Firstly, Restaurant Operations. Restaurants make up about 80% of the carbon footprint of the business in the UK and is therefore the main target for reduction. McDonald's has been investing in many different energy efficient technologies and has trained its 75,000 staff in the use of energy efficient practices. Together these have resulted in reductions in underlying electricity consumption during 2009 (once increased sales and opening hours have been factored out) of over 10%, equivalent to a saving of over 30,000 tonnes CO2.
Other measures McDonald's has taken include recycling all its used cooking oil into bio-diesel to power its distribution fleet, backhauling over 80% of its cardboard and rolling out 'energy from waste' across the estate over the next 2 years so that the waste fraction that is not separated will go to incineration to provide electricity for the grid. The pilot projects for this, in Sheffield and London, have reduced carbon emissions from waste processing by 54% and 48% respectively (as measured by the Carbon Trust).
Secondly, Supply Chain. Here one of the company's major contributors is beef production. McDonald's believes there is an opportunity to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production of beef and is keen to be at the forefront in developing the know-how in order to make those reductions on a large scale. The Eco2 Project - an independent rural consultancy and energy auditing company - has just started to roll out a major project for McDonald’s, one of Europe’s largest beef buyers. The programme will use the world’s most sophisticated on-farm greenhouse gas calculator, developed by Eco2 and accredited by The Carbon Trust, to measure each farm’s emissions. A total of 350 beef farms in the UK and Ireland will be visited by April 2010, and specialist consultants will work with the farmers to help them bring about reductions through natural farming practices and supply chain efficiencies.
(April 2010)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 19. Will McDonalds be investing in future green technologies and building their stores with the changing climate in mind? for example wind turbines or solar cells on top of buildings, New l.e.d lighting, recycled rain water for use in flushing toilets, insulation made from aerogel etc etc. Surely the savings made over the long term out weigh the initial cost
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Thank you for your question. McDonald's takes its commitment to the environment very seriously and in 2006 engaged with the Carbon Trust to develop a carbon management program. Through this program the company has invested in many green technologies for its buildings to become more resource efficient. There are currently 30 restaurants, which have solar water heating, and wind turbines are being installed in five restaurants. Waterless urinals have been installed in 30 restaurants and 100 flush volumes have been decreased wherever suitable to decrease water usage. Additionally, our kitchen grills are fitted with sonic alerts to remind staff to return them to their standby position after use and all restaurants have low energy lamps and 11 new lighting systems have high frequency fittings. L.E.D lighting is currently being trialled in a McDonald's restaurant. The development team at McDonald's is currently putting together a sustainable construction strategy, which will include more innovation in this area.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 20. What aims are there in 2009 for McDonalds to help the environment? What objectives are there for this aim?
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Thank you for your question. McDonald's UK has an Environmental Strategy which covers four main areas; the aims are for zero waste to landfill, less energy renewable energy, less packaging renewable packaging and less water cleaner water. There are numerous objectives in each of these areas and in 2009 our big moves are: to expand our energy from waste project to a wider area of restaurants in Sheffield (depending on planning permission) and also to another city within the Uk. We are investigating the results of our composting trial in Dorset and how this technology can form part of McDonald’s zero waste to landfill target. There will be a significant aim to reduce road miles from our waste collections. Employee engagement is another important area for McDonald's in 2009 and currently the team is developing an environment key skills module covering for the apprenticeship programme as well as working on a interactive employee website which covers actions that the company is taking as well as what staff can do both at work and at home.
(March 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 21. I'm interested in the plastics that you still use in some of your meals. Packaging and utensils and what can be done to sort them from the organic or bio-degradable waste. Also, can these straw, cup tops, spoons, condiment containers be made out of bio-degradable materials.
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Thank you for your question. Currently McDonald's is considering composting technology after a trial in Dorset was conducted, which sent left over food and paper waste from 12 restaurants which was turned into compost.
The current infrastructure in the UK allows recycling of plastic bottles throughout most parts of the country and this is a waste area that the company is investigating.
All of McDonald’s paper packaging is 'degradable' - whether or not it is biodegradable will depend upon the inks and coatings used and then the classification of biodegradable currently in use for the UK. McDonald's packaging supplier has researched the use of corn starch and other biodegradable materials for use in McDonald's plastic packaging however there are two concerns. Firstly McDonald's has a policy to not use genetically modified (GM) crops and it is difficult to obtain GM free biodegradable materials. Secondly, McDonald's is conscious that it does not want crop based packaging material to compete with land area which may otherwise be devoted to grow food based crops.
(March 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 22. What is McDonalds' policy for energy and how does the company ensure energy efficiency? Would it be possible to receive information or leaflets on your energy policy? Please get back to me it will be much appreciated as I am conducting a report for my school work and I have chosen your company I as enjoy eating your big macs :) and have also been a mcd.s' employee.
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Thank you for your question. Our environment strategy includes the following information relating specifically to energy:
We aim to minimise energy consumption in our restaurants, and we will develop a strategy for the introduction of renewable energy as part of our energy supply. We will…
• Make every employee aware of the importance of reducing energy usage
• Not introduce any new equipment with higher energy usage than the equipment that it is replacing
• Through our equipment roadmap, ensure that in meeting our future equipment needs, we utilise the most energy efficient technology available to us
• Understand the importance of carbon impact within our business activities, and include projections of such impacts within all our business decisions.
For more information download our 16 page Environment Booklet by copying the link below into your browser.
http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/static/pdf/ourworld/Environmental_Booklet_June_2008.pdf
(Jan 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 23. McDonalds, how do you feel about your beef being so cheap because of corn subsidies by world governments which degrades the nutritional quality of your food and helps to contribute to global warming (corn diets lead to greater releases of methane, a potent greenhouse gas)?
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Thank you for the question. MUYOM is designed to answer questions relating to McDonald's activity within the UK. All the beef used by McDonald's UK is from British cattle, which are fed on a grass based diet (grazing in the summer, hay or silage in the winter) and the feed is often supplemented with wheat / barley / potatoes etc, depending on the ration that the farmer chooses to use and the availability of the ingredients. Corn is not part of their diet.
(Dec 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 24. Why are all the important environmental issues located on a separate website? Do you think it is likely that this will raise awareness for casual visitors who are browsing the menu? Or do you, like me, think that this will only benefit those that are already aware of the issues?
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Thank you for your question. First and foremost McDonald's is a commercial restaurant chain that specialises in selling burgers that are affordable and good quality, using beef, chicken and fish as the primary ingredients. So when customers visit the menu pages of our website, we want to provide them with as much information about our food as possible because that is what they demand.
However, McDonald's takes its responsibility to protecting and preserving the environment seriously and that is why, as you correctly point out, we have dedicated a large section of our website to this very important issue.
On our new website, this section can be found at:
http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ourworld/environment/policy.shtml
(Dec 08)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 25. Why do you use so much packaging on your products? For customers who eat in, why not offer to serve unwrapped food on paper plates. This would cut your in-restaurant waste by up to 60% and your packaging cost by up to 30% or more, while also allowing you to benefit from a better ecological footprint statement on your CSR reports. Any questions just email me.
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The amount of packaging on McDonald's products is due to food health and safety requirements. McDonald's is constantly trying to reduce the amount packaging it uses and developments so far have included reducing the amount of plastic by replacing our salad bases with paper card. In addition, we have removed all foamed polystyrene and replaced it with cardboard.
(Jan 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 26. Why the tremendous waste in plastic toys, wrap and cardboard box that is often walked to the table and then thrown out. I would much rather pay a nickel less per meal and know that the landfill is not filling up with this junk. A occasional promotion is one thing--constant junk to our kids has me going to other fast food.
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Thank you for your question. McDonald’s is always looking at ways to reduce the amount of packaging we use and to improve the environmental performance of packaging materials. For example, our stirrers were previously made from plastic but are now made from wood. Another recent innovation has been the development of packaging board from post-industrial recycled paper. This means that we are using the off-cut material from industry paper cuttings to make our packaging. The board consists of 72% post-industrial recycled paper fibres, 28% virgin paper fibres and a grease resistant coating. This mix enables us to maximise the use of recycled materials, whilst still providing a totally safe product for food delivery. This type of packaging is used for many of our hamburgers, fruit pie cartons, French fry and Chicken McNuggets cartons, and a number of New Tastes Menu items. Many other non-food items contain recycled materials. Items containing 100% post-consumer material – (i.e. materials which have been used by the public – such as newspapers – and then collected for recycling) - are drink carriers, bags, napkins and toilet paper.
McDonalds has also run an energy from waste pilot, which is now a permanent initiative in Sheffield. Our restaurants in Sheffield send their waste to a energy from waste facility and there are plans to expand the project in the future. The heat and power generated from the energy from waste facility in Sheffield are used for public buildings.
Regarding Happy Meal Toys, McDonald's has implemented a system that tackles the use and offset of Happy Meal toys. Since the 1st July 2007, members of the public have had the opportunity to deposit their old electrical items for recycling at designated recycling facilities (DCF). McDonald’s have contributed towards a national fund to assist local councils to further develop their existing waste electronics collection facilities. If you would like to take part and would like to locate your local designated electronic recycling facility, please refer to McDonald’s partner website – www.recycle-more.co.uk for your nearest DCF.
(Jan 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 27. I would like to know why it is McDonalds policy to issue paper bags with all purchases?I am always given a paper bag aswell as a tray with a paper liner on it- surely this is very costly to the company and a waste? Can you not change policy and add an extra 2 seconds to service time and get the staff to simply ask if 'i would like a bag'? Please can you explain what your policy is on this matter. Regards S.Tribbel
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McDonald's would like to apologise. This should not happen. When a crew member is serving at the counter, they are trained to ask whether you would like to have your meal 'Eat-In' or 'Takeaway' and, depending on this answer, your food should be delivered on a tray or a bag. At busy times of the day, a restaurant may run out of trays and, if this is the case, they might put the food in a bag to avoid you waiting. If you continue to receive your order in a paper bag when you wish to eat in the restaurant, please bring it to the attention of the restaurant manager and, if this persists, then please do call the Customer Services team on 08705 244622 who will look into the matter on your behalf.
(September 2009)
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