Global framework, local progress
The McDonald’s supply chain comprises many different local and regional supply chains around the world. They are tied together globally by strategic frameworks, policies and McDonald Worldwide Supply Chain Department. To guide the identification and oversight of issues related to sustainability, an additional global governance structure - the Sustainable Supply Steering Committee - was created in 2007.
The Sustainable Supply Steering Committee (SSSC) includes representatives from global supply chain, supply chain departments in each major geographic sector, or area of the world, Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Accountability and Corporate Communications.
This committee is responsible for guiding McDonald’s toward its vision for sustainable supply by identifying global priorities and ensuring progress in ways that complement local priorities and efforts.
Vision
We envision a supply chain that profitably yields high-quality, safe products without supply interruption while leveraging our leadership position to create a net benefit by improving ethical, environmental and economic outcomes.
Ethical - We envision purchasing from suppliers that follow practices that ensure the health and safety of their employees and the welfare and humane treatment of animals in our supply chain.
Environmental - We envision influencing the sourcing of our materials and ensuring the design of our products, their manufacture, distribution and use minimize lifecycle impacts on the environment.
Economic - We envision delivering affordable food, engaging in equitable trade practices, limiting the spread of agricultural diseases, and positively impacting the communities that our suppliers operate in.
We view this vision and its responsibilities holistically. As sourcing decisions are made, we consider our priorities for food safety, quality and costs, as well as our ethical, environmental and economic responsibilities. Our progress on beef and coffee sustainability illustrate how we are working to bring this approach to life.
McDonald’s Europe’s Agricultural Assurance Program (MAAP) is another example of how we try to approach sustainability holistically. MAAP standards require suppliers to achieve certain levels of safety, quality and sustainability in their agricultural production practices. Areas addressed include general agricultural practices, the environment, animal health and welfare, animal nutrition, genetics and transparency. Standards are updated annually to ensure that they reflect leading agricultural practices, and suppliers of all major products are audited against them.