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McDonald's Serves Up Its First Social Responsibility Report

McDonald's Corporation has issued its first worldwide social responsibility report, touting a record of community involvement, commitment to environmental protection, and support of disadvantaged workers. Read More

a href=http://www.greenbiz.com/frame/1.cfm?targetsite=http://www.mcdonalds.com… Corporation has issued its first worldwide social responsibility report, touting a record of community involvement, commitment to environmental protection, and support of disadvantaged workers.

“Social responsibility is not a project or a program. Acting responsibly is the way McDonald’s does business,” said Jack Greenberg, chairman and chief executive officer of the McDonald’s Corporation. “It’s what we’ve been doing, where we are today, and where we plan to go in the future.”

The 46-page report describes how social responsibility fits into the company’s business strategies, and provides a snapshot of McDonald’s performance and progress in four broad categories: community, the environment, people, and the marketplace.

“This report reflects the unique, local nature of McDonald’s restaurant business — restaurants mainly owned and operated by local men and women, who are involved in their communities, and give something back to them in different ways the world over,” said Greenberg.

The report highlights several environmental initiatives, including a partnership with the Center for Environmental Leadership in Business aimed at implementing sustainable-agriculture and conservation practices and standards within McDonald’s global food-supply network.

“We are enthusiastic about this new partnership and the opportunity to work with McDonald’s to develop purchasing preferences with conservation in mind,” said Glenn Prickett, executive director of the Center for Environmental Leadership in Business. “We envision our collaboration producing sustainable agricultural guidelines and projects that have a far-reaching impact.”

The company also reported efforts to purchase recycled materials for its packaging, and described its involvement in a study of the effects of animal antibiotics conducted in partnership with Environmental Defense. As a result of that study, McDonald’s asked its poultry suppliers a year ago to discontinue the use of fluoroquinolones — an antibiotic, therapeutic medication for chickens. The company says it is also working with the Natural Step to adopt an environmental management system, and it has begun working with suppliers to audit their processing facilities to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals.

Examples contained in the report under the community category, include McDonald’s support of Ronald McDonald House Charities and its more than 200 Ronald McDonald Houses around the world that provide a “home away from home” for families with seriously ill children. Since 1984, RMHC and its global network of local chapters have provided more than $300 million for children’s programs.

Under the people category, McDonald’s outlines its advanced training and development efforts and a commitment to a diverse workforce.

The full report is available online.

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