McDonald’s is testing Green Restaurant Concepts

In the United States of America, US origen fast-food chain McDonalds is testing green technologies, like energy-saving and waste-reduction in 10 restaurants.

One green restaurant in Chicago consumes 25 percent less energy than similar locations. Another location in Cary, N.C., incorporates LED lighting and low-flow toilets, uses eco-friendly materials such as counters made of recycled glass and concrete, and provides electric car charging stations. The location hopes to achieve LEED gold certification from the US Government.

Earlier this year McDonald’s began an effort to show consumers its “greener” side with a new institutional marketing effort, “Global Best of Green.” Energy savings and waste reduction are central to McDonald’s corporate social responsibility strategy.

Sharing knowledge to create supply chain sustainability

In Australia there was an important business reunion between retailers and manufacturers to share their knowledge on improving the sustainability in the retail chain. The roundtable was organized by NSW Government and Marks & Spencer, one of the leading companies in corporate social responsability was present to give an insight in their greentailing policy.

The event brings together key representatives of Austrain retail, food and beverage, fashion and consumer goods industries, hearing from Marks & Spencer their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable retailing.”

Mr Macdonald from Marks & Spencer noted that the crisis should not influence the social responsability.“CSR is about including public interest in corporate decision-making through the honouring of a triple bottom line of People, Planet and Profit,” he noted. “Consumers are increasingly aware of the implications of purchasing decisions in terms of environmental and ethical concerns, and corporations are under pressure to examine their entire supply chains from a CSR perspective.”

Marks & Spencer is a leading force for retail CSR in the United Kingdom through its ‘Plan A’ initiative which sets ambitious goals to be carbon neutral, cut landfill waste, source sustainable materials for products, promote healthy lifestyles for customers, and set new standards in ethical trading.

“By sharing its knowledge, Marks & Spencer will help accelerate the already growing phenomenon of CSR in Australian retailing,” Mr Macdonald explained. “There are many potential benefits for NSW companies involved in genuine CSR efforts including increased brand power, consumer appeal, and increased employee engagement through greater loyalty, improved recruitment, increased retention and higher productivity.”

Source: www.insideretailing.com.au