McDonald\'s, the big dog of the fast food world, has come under fire lately for
ID: 469416 • Letter: M
Question
McDonald's, the big dog of the fast food world, has come under fire lately for its management practices regarding pay and labor cost, but McDonald's has spent a great deal of time and money in an attempt to make its supply chain more sustainable. The McDonald's corporate web page (Links to an external site.) talks about sustainability in terms of 3Es - Ethics, Environment, Economics. Follow the link (Links to an external site.). Read the information provided. Keeping in mind the issues raised in the presentation and in the "Holistic Sustainability" lecture, discuss these questions:
Do you believe that McDonald's is acting in a sustainable manner or is their web page just for show?
What about the change in packaging from Styrofoam to paper?
What about the process of central food processing and delivery of all items to the local restaurant, frozen, by truck, as a sustainable process? Could there be a better way?
Explanation / Answer
McDonald's is undoubtly the big dog of the fast food world worldwide. This fast food giant has tried its best in past to make the supply chain more sustainable. Now coming to the point, whether or not McDonald's is just acting as being sustainalbe or it is just for the show?
Well it is a true fact that McDonald's has come to realise its potential in the market and it knows well that to sustain in the market, they must care for more sustainablity. Well people are becoming health concious everyday. New geenration to come is more concerned about the environment. McDonald's knows their target customers i.e. youth better. So they have adopted many ways really to ensure sustainability.
One of the example i would like to give is introduction of McDonald's 'sustainable beef' burger. This is an example of their move towards sustainability.Beef is beloved by Americans and it is also one of the most environmentally damaging food. Coming with something like 'sustainable beef' burgers is a welcome move for all the health and environment concious people.
2.What about the change in packaging from Styrofoam to paper?
Well, this is an excellent work done by McDonald's. We all know that Styrofoam is not very enviromental friendly. Using paper for packaging ensures minimal risk to the enviroment atleast from the packaging. This move shows that McDonald's is not just concerned about the corporate sustainability but also they are more concerned about their social and environmental responsibilities.
3.What about the process of central food processing and delivery of all items to the local restaurant, frozen, by truck, as a sustainable process? Could there be a better way?
Well, the delivery system might not be much environment friendly. Using trucks, incurs a cost to the environment. There can be better ways to ensure that there is minimal pollution. We can use green channels. Location of the central food processing stores must be chosen wisely, and route must be optimized for delivery so that negative externalities are minimal. There are always better ways. We just need to think. Necessity is the mother of invention.