How McDonald’s and Salesforce Harness Data to Drive Sustainability Forward

Image Credit: McDonald's

McDonald’s, one of the world’s largest corporations with more than 40,000 restaurants worldwide, is pushing forward on its sustainability commitments with the help of long-time partners Salesforce and Cognizant. These collaborations are providing the fast-food giant with the tools it needs to measure progress and act on its ambitious environmental and social goals.

Beth Hart, Chief Sustainability and Social Impact Officer at McDonald's, said on LinkedIn: “In sustainability, you can’t manage what you can’t measure.

“At McDonald's, we’re investing in better data and reporting – not just to meet sustainability regulations, but to make sustainability and social impact a core part of our business strategy.

“This data transformation is more than compliance. We are building resilience and solving problems with smarter insights."

Beth Hart, Chief Sustainability and Social Impact Officer at McDonald’s, summed it up on LinkedIn: “In sustainability, you can’t manage what you can’t measure.” That mindset underpins the company’s efforts, particularly in animal health and welfare.

Putting animal welfare at the forefront

McDonald’s has set clear, measurable objectives to ensure its supply chain minimises harm to the animals it relies on. Its poultry welfare strategy is based on eight core aims, which include establishing the McDonald’s Chicken Sustainability Advisory Council, measuring farm-level welfare outcomes, and developing cutting-edge technology to track and improve conditions.

The company is also enriching environments to encourage natural behaviours, running commercial trials to see how production changes affect welfare, and phasing in Controlled Atmospheric Stunning in the United States and Canada. Independent, third-party audits and feasibility studies for expanding these commitments globally are also part of the plan.

Progress has been tangible. McDonald’s reached its goal of sourcing 100 per cent cage-free eggs by 2023, two years ahead of schedule. It has also eliminated the use of antibiotics considered critically important to human medicine from all chicken served in markets such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

Chris Kempczinski, CEO at McDonald's, says: “As a leading global brand, we understand our responsibility to help preserve our planet so our business and future generations can continue to thrive. 

“To protect the future of McDonald’s, we need to help protect our Earth’s natural resources so that we can continue serving our communities.”

When it comes to beef, McDonald’s collaborates with suppliers to collect data on antibiotic use through independent channels, a move aimed at promoting responsible use and increased transparency. The goal is to ensure treatments are only used when necessary and in ways that protect both animal and human health.

Climate action and net-zero goals

McDonald’s has set its sights on becoming a net-zero company by 2050, a target endorsed by the Science-Based Targets initiative in 2018. By 2030, it plans to reduce absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from company-owned restaurants and offices by just over 50 per cent. Scope 3 emissions, which come from franchisee operations and the broader supply chain, will also be cut by 50.4 per cent. In the forest, land and agriculture category, Scope 3 emissions will be reduced by 16 per cent, all while maintaining zero deforestation for key commodities.

To achieve this, McDonald’s is redesigning and repowering its restaurants, investing in energy efficiency, and promoting more sustainable farming techniques.

Protecting forests, nature, and water

The company aims to eliminate deforestation from its global supply chains by 2030, focusing on beef, soy, palm oil, coffee, and fibre. According to McDonald’s, 99.1 per cent of its supply already meets deforestation-free criteria.

It purchases Roundtable on Responsible Soy credits to support its claims and requires coffee to come from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms in countries such as Honduras, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Suppliers from other regions must hold certification from the Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade International, or the McCafé Sustainability Improvement Platform. For fibre-based packaging, McDonald’s insists on materials sourced from the Forest Stewardship Council or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification chains of custody.

Making packaging, toys, and waste more sustainable

McDonald’s is also tackling waste and packaging. Its goal is for all primary guest packaging to come from renewable, recycled, or certified materials and to be free from intentionally added fluorinated compounds. By 2025, the company aims to advance reuse, composting, and recycling initiatives across its restaurants, while reducing plastic in Happy Meal toys worldwide and replacing it with more sustainable materials.

Jon Banner, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Impact Officer at McDonald's Corporation, says: “As we look to the future, I'm filled with enthusiasm for what lies ahead.

“The challenges our world faces are significant, but so is our determination to be a force for good. 

“We're not just adapting to change – we’re helping to drive it, with a clear vision of a more sustainable, equitable and resilient future."