McDonald’s Goes Green…
McDonald’s is a company on a mission. Tired of being held up as an example of corporate evil and greed, the fast food chain has been hitting out at critics with a series of environmental and social initiatives designed to prove that it cares.
McDonald’s, the States’ largest purchaser of potatoes, will now take steps to reduce pesticide use in potato production for its supply. U.S. potato suppliers are already working with their growers to advance sustainable pesticide practices, such as reductions and alternative methods. And because it accounts for a huge chunk of U.S. spud use, I suppose it’s good that they’re leaning toward organic. But this isn’t some charitable thing, though they’re gonna spin it that way (of course).
Shareholder and labor groups were pushing McDonald’s to address the issue in their company report. They were asking that Mickey D’s publish a report on the steps it could take to possibly reduce the use of chemicals. Then shareholders could vote on a pesticide-free resolution at the fast food giant’s shareholder meeting later this year. But because McDonald’s agreed, there will be no vote on the action. I’m suspicious: they probably didn’t want a bunch of consumer advocates and enviros buying stock for the sole purpose of forcing them to go all biodegradable, organic, and (gasp!) healthy.
“Where it makes sense we are going to use our size and influence to make a difference,” said Bob Langert, McDonald’s vice president for corporate social responsibility. Although McDonald’s isn’t new to the idea of green, it’s another example of how corporate America’s putting more time, more focus and more resources into the environment.
It’s more than just corporate responsibility, analysts say. More and more, consumers want to know the products they buy are made, distributed and sold with the environment in mind. While companies need to be careful not to overstate their green efforts, going green can buoy sales, analysts say. At the same time, cutting waste or packaging can cut costs.
If a corporate giant like Mickey D’s forces more companies to go organic, it could help the market considerably. Not to mention the environment. Then again, it could also devalue the work and value of organic farmers and undercut their prices.
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