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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
10.18.2005 ET
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Fast-Food Giant McDonald's Wins Approval as Ceres Partner; Pledges Further Improvements in Social & Environmental Programs
(CSRwire) BOSTON - Citing the company's progress on sustainability reporting
and commitment to continuous enhancement of its social and environmental
performance, the Ceres board of directors today announced it has approved
fast food giant McDonald's Corp. as a Ceres company.
McDonald's is among 65 companies - including nearly a dozen Fortune 500
companies - to be accepted into the Ceres network of companies.
Boston-based Ceres is a 16-year-old coalition of investors, environmental
organizations and other public interest groups working with companies to
tackle sustainability challenges.
"From energy efficiency, to food resource sustainability, to 'greening'
its supply chain, McDonald's has made great strides improving its social
and environmental performance," said Ceres President Mindy S. Lubber.
"More importantly, the company wants to do even more. Working with
investors, environmental groups and other stakeholders, Ceres and
McDonald's are excited about future opportunities to take sustainability
deeper into the company and its supply chain, and to encourage
improvements and share their expertise across the rest of the fast food
industry."
"We are especially excited about joining Ceres because they'll help us
continue to strengthen the linkage between CSR (Corporate Social
Responsibility) performance and its relevance to the investment
community," said Ken Barun, Senior Vice President, Corporate
Responsibility, McDonald's Corporation. "Ceres brings forth a unique
expertise and a terrific network to help McDonald's advance its social and
environmental efforts."
McDonald's has instituted various programs to reduce its environmental
footprint and make its global operations more sustainable and transparent.
Among these efforts:
McDonald's issued its first Corporate Responsibility Report in 2002
and a second, more substantive Corporate Responsibility Report in 2004.
Both of the reports follow reporting guidelines in the Ceres-created
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the de-facto international standard for
reporting on environmental, social and business issues.
Responsible purchasing programs designed to protect fishing stocks,
animal welfare and forest resources. Fish sourcing environmental
guidelines, for example, were implemented in 2003 and 2004 after a close
collaboration with fish suppliers and Conservation International.
Balanced lifestyle and nutrition initiatives that focus on more menu
choices, additional food and nutrition information, and the promotion of
physical activity. These include expanded salad and fruit offerings and
the phasing out of "Super Size" options. Since 2003, McDonald's has sold
over 400 million salad meals and is now buying more fresh apples -
estimated at more than 50 million pounds in 2005 - than any other
restaurant chain in the country.
Implemented a far-reaching Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure safe
and healthy work environments and fair compensation and work schedules for
employees. The company carried out more than 1,500 external assessments
this year to ensure that the code is being complied with.
Many of the company's programs are the result of close stakeholder
engagement and collaboration with animal welfare experts, environmental
groups, paper suppliers, shareholders and dozens of others.
Among the stakeholders the company has worked closely with is the New York
City Comptroller's office, which has a large financial stake in McDonald's
as part of the $90 billion in assets it manages for five retirement
funds.
"I applaud McDonald's for taking this important step towards continuous
improvements of its global business impacts," said New York City
Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., referring to the company's decision
to become a Ceres company. "Collaboration with Ceres helps to assure
investors of McDonald's commitment to employ best practices of corporate
social responsibility and sustainability reporting. This relationship will
serve to enhance the long-term interests of the company and its
shareholders."
Companies that join Ceres must commit to engage with shareholders and
other stakeholders on sustainability issues, to report publicly on
sustainability performance and to make additional sustainability
improvements.
For more information about Ceres, visit www.ceres.org
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