A Cup of More Sustainable Coffee
Coffee is another product we have been focusing on to ensure that it is produced in a sustainable way, taking into account ethical, environmental and economic factors. Consumer preferences for coffee vary from market to market, so the approaches used to ensure sustainable coffee supplies differ. However, our standard approach is to work with our suppliers to balance sustainability impacts and other considerations. Some recent highlights of our work on sustainable coffee include:
Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA)
McDonald’s Australia announced in May 2008 that it will move its coffee supply toward Rainforest Alliance (RA)-certified sources by May 2009. The McCafe blend is already RA-certified, and the rest will be rolled out in 2009. A U.S.-based global non-profit, RA certifies farms that meet specific, independent and verifiable standards of production, including protecting the environment, the rights and welfare of workers and the interest of coffee-growing communities.
Europe
In January 2007, McDonald’s UK became the first major retailer in the United Kingdom to source 100% of its coffee beans from RA-certified farms. The new coffee comes from Kenco, owned by Kraft Foods, and uses a high-quality Arabica bean. The approach has been expanded to all our 40 European markets. All our restaurants throughout Europe now serve premium, freshly-ground coffee from certified sustainable sources, e.g. RA, Utz Certified - Good Inside.
Other McDonald’s markets such as McDonald's USA are working with suppliers to learn more about sustainable sourcing options for coffee. They will continue to monitor customer preferences and develop their coffee sourcing accordingly.