McDonald's gives preference to FSC for packaging

Wood fibre is the predominant material used in McDonald's food packaging solutions. 

McDonald's has released a policy for packaging supplies that gives preference to FSC certification over other forms of documentation, "because it currently provides the best assurance of meeting our standards".  

Alternative labelling schemes that are also recognised by McDonald's include SFI, PEFC, CSA and Brazil's Cerflor. 

McDonald's wood fibre sourcing standard defines the following sources as acceptable:

• Not obtained from land that has been converted to plantation or other land uses after 1994;
• Not sourced from areas included in an official planning process for designation as protected;
• Not sourced from species included on the CITES list of endangered species;
• Conforming with international trade sanction.

McDonald's further requires all its fibre-based packaging to comply with legal requirements pertaining to harvesting, transport, processing, and trade.

“McDonald’s serves customers around the world, and we accept the responsibility that comes with our global presence,” said McDonald’s Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner. “We will continue to focus our energy on developing sustainable sourcing practices.”

Wider commitment to sustainable land use

The packaging sourcing policy is part of McDonald's wider commitment to the sustainability of its supply chain. The company established a more comprehensive commitment in 2009 "to ensure that, over time, the agricultural raw materials for our food and packaging originate from legal and sustainably managed land sources".  

McDonald's now have sourcing policies in place pertaining to beef, poultry, coffee, palm oil, and packaging. For example,each of the 1 million daily cups of coffee served at McDonald's in Europe is from certified sustainable sources, according to the company. As part of this work, McDonald's has been working with the Rainforest Alliance since 2007. Today, Rainforest Alliance Certified^TM coffee and tea is served in numerous McDonald's outlets worldwide, including all of the coffee served at McDonald's in the UK and at McCafés in Australia.

 

Wood fibre policy praised by NGO

The new policy on packaging has received praise by the US-based organisation Dogwood Alliance. The NGO is particularly satisfied with MdDonald's pledge to avoid areas converted after 1994: "Specifically, McDonald’s will work to eliminate paper originating from tree plantations established after 1994 that were previously natural forests. The replacement of natural forests by industrial tree plantations for paper production has destroyed millions of acres of unique forests and forested wetlands in the Southern US, the world’s largest paper producing region" states Dogwood Alliance at its website. 
 

Sources: Mc'Donald's, Dogwood Alliance