1

Written Assignment Unit 6

Maria Elisabeth Soonik

Department of Business Administration, University of the People

BUS 3306-01: Business and Society

Professor Usha Palaniswamy

May 21, 2025

Introduction

I chose to write about McDonald’s Corporation, which is one of the world’s most widely

recognized and accepted fast-food franchise brands that has more recently accepted sustainability

and ethical business practices. The company is integrating Environmental, Social, and

Governance (ESG) practices, which are focused on a commitment to realizing or reducing

environmental impacts, improving animal welfare, and undertaking responsible sourcing

(McDonald's, 2024). I will outline the sustainable and ethical actions taken by McDonald's,

improvements, and ways to heighten their green marketing strategies.

Sustainable and Ethical Practices

Climate Action and Emission Reduction

McDonald's has made a big commitment to fight climate change, and the goal is to reach

net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, with interim targets of absolute Scope 1 and

2 (GHG) reductions by 50.4%, as well as Scope 3 reductions of 16% by 2030 (McDonald's,

2024). All targets are in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are a clear

demonstration of McDonald's stewardship for the environment.

Sustainable Sourcing and Animal Welfare

McDonald’s is serious about sourcing responsibly throughout its supply chain. Notably, it

reached its target to source 100% cage-free eggs in the U.S. by the end of 2023, more than two

years ahead of schedule (Mcdonald's, 2024. The company also promotes deforestation-free

supply chains for major commodities such as beef, soy, palm oil, coffee, and fiber, of which

99.1% of these primary commodities sourced provided a deforestation-free supply chain in 2023.
 3

Packaging and Waste Reduction

In its efforts to reduce waste, McDonald’s has committed to making 100% of its primary

guest packaging from renewable, recycled, or certified sources by the end of 2025 (McDonald's,

2022). The company has also redesigned its McFlurry cups to be lid-free and more sustainable,

helping reduce plastic waste.

Renewable Energy and Sustainable Restaurant Design

McDonald’s has also put money into renewable energy and sustainable restaurant

designs. The net-zero energy McDonald's restaurant located at Walt Disney World is an example

McDonald’s Unveils Net Zero Energy-Designed Restaurant at Walt Disney World Resort, 2024).

This restaurant creates all the energy it needs on-site through renewable energy sources

(McDonald’s Unveils Net Zero Energy-Designed Restaurant at Walt Disney World Resort.

(2024). This flagship restaurant will be a learning center to offer them solutions to cut down on

energy and water.

Green Marketing Strategies

Green marketing strategies are being used by McDonald’s to convey its sustainability

efforts to the consumer (Keith, 2023). The company has created programs like the “McMission”

augmented reality app where users can interactively learn about things that McDonald’s does

environmentally and socially. McDonald’s has also used their packaging and displays in-store to

communicate their sustainability commitment- like recycled materials, sustainable sourcing.

Areas for Improvement in Green Marketing

Enhanced Transparency and Reporting

The communication of sustainability metrics in a more detailed and easily accessible

manner can foster trust and reassurance with consumers. They would be well served by the

disclosure of progress toward environmental goals, challenges, and where improvements can be

made (Givz | 8 Important Green Marketing Strategies for Eco-Friendly Ecommerce Brands,

n.d.).

Consumer Engagement and Education

When creating campaigns that actively promote involvement and give consumers a sense

of accountability in sustainable practices, we can create a stage of accountability. Educational

campaigns helping customers understand the impact of their decisions on the environment also

encourage future sustainable actions.

Collaboration with Environmental Organizations

Joining up with environmental NGOs and community-based sustainability projects can

improve McDonald’s credibility and show their commitment to environmental stewardship (Givz

| 8 Important Green Marketing Strategies for Eco-Friendly Ecommerce Brands, n.d.).

Conclusion

McDonald’s has made a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical action through

climate change initiatives, responsible sourcing, waste reduction initiatives, and inventive

restaurant design. By including transparency, engaging consumers, and using external

environmental organizations, McDonald’s could further increase its green marketing practices

and corporate social responsibility.

References

Deepak. (2025, April 3). McDonalds Sustainability - The Sustainable Innovation. The

Sustainable Innovation. https://thesustainableinnovation.com/mcdonalds/

Givz | 8 Important Green Marketing Strategies for Eco-Friendly Ecommerce Brands.

(n.d.). Www.givz.com. https://www.givz.com/blog/green-marketing

Keith. (2023). McDonald’s Marketing Strategy: How McDonald’s makes you love it!

Buildd. https://buildd.co/marketing/mcdonalds-marketing-strategy

McDonald's. (2024). Home. Corporate.mcdonalds.com.

https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/home.html

McDonald's. (2024). Climate Action. Corporate.mcdonalds.com.

https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-purpose-and-impact/our-planet/climate-

action.html

Mcdonald's. (2024, February 6). McDonald’s Achieves Goal of Sourcing 100% Cage-

Free Eggs in the U.S.Www.mcdonalds.com. https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-

stories/article/mcdonalds-achieves-goal-sourcing-100cagefree-eggs-us.html

McDonald's. (2022). Packaging, Toys & Waste. McDonald’s.

https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-purpose-and-impact/our-planet/packaging-toys-

and-waste.html

McDonald’s Unveils Net Zero Energy-Designed Restaurant at Walt Disney World

Resort. (2024). Mcdonalds.com.

https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/net-0-energy-disney.html