Choosing to work for a sustainability-focused company is key.
For more than 60 years, McDonald’s has believed in the importance of feeding, fostering and caring for the communities it serves.
To capture the positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact McDonald's has had around the world, the company is releasing its latest Purpose and Impact Progress Reporting Suite, which provides updates on its impact and measures the progress McDonald's made toward its ESG goals and commitments over 2020-2021.
McDonald's is grateful to its neighborhood restaurants, suppliers, producers, and employees who help the company meet its industry-leading global commitments on a local scale.
Read about the four impact areas you'll learn more about in McDonald's 2020-2021 Purpose and Impact Reporting Suite.
Jobs, Inclusion & Empowerment
McDonald’s is serving up bright futures by providing opportunity for education and skills in the communities McDonald's serves through even greater focus on equity and inclusion across the business.
McDonald's Progress:
- The company invited U.S.-based suppliers to McDonald’s to sign a Mutual Commitment to DEI, a pledge to take action within their own organizations to build the talent pipelines, infrastructure and culture that support increased representation and inclusion, and close equity gaps.
- McDonald's continues to work towards overall global gender parity in leadership positions and greater visibility of underrepresented groups in corporate staffing. Women currently make up 37.4% of McDonald’s leadership roles globally, and 29.1% of leaders in the U.S. come from historically underrepresented groups.
Our Planet
McDonald’s is working to protect the planet today and in the future by finding innovative ways to keep waste out of nature, conserve forests and ecosystems, and drive climate action.
McDonald's Progress:
- In 2020, approximately 80% of guest packaging sourced for McDonald’s restaurants came from renewable, recycled, or certified sources, and 25% of McDonald’s restaurants in their 30 largest markets offer guests the opportunity to recycle packaging waste.
- McDonald's has achieved an 8.5% reduction in the absolute emissions of their restaurants and offices towards their 36% reduction goal, and a 5.9% reduction in supply chain emissions intensity towards its target of a 31% reduction (from 2015 baseline).
Food Quality & Sourcing
McDonald’s is sourcing delicious, quality ingredients in responsible ways, because what McDonald's serves, how its food is produced and where it comes from matters to its customers, communities and the environment. This includes supporting farming communities and the people, locally and globally, who produce and raise its food, and offering balanced, wholesome options the entire family can enjoy.
McDonald's Progress:
- McDonald’s achieved 98% to 100% on its 2020 responsible sourcing goals focused on its priority products – beef, soy for chicken feed, coffee, palm oil, fish and fiber.
- In October 2020, McDonald's shared the milestone progress it made toward its five Global Happy Meal Goals for 2022 across its 20 major markets.* For example, 2.5+ billion Happy Meal items sold in 2018 and 2019 in the 20 major markets contained recommended food groups (fruit, vegetable, low-fat dairy, water, lean protein, and/or whole grain).
- Ten out of ten of their top beef sourcing countries have recognized one or more beef producers as Flagship Farmers to work with peers and share their industry-leading practices as of 2020. In total, the program has recognized 34 farmers in 17 countries across four continents.
Community Connection
McDonald's is supporting communities and fostering togetherness. It's why the company donated millions of pounds of food from its supply chain and hot meals from its restaurants to communities in times of need and crisis. McDonald's is also proud to support Ronald McDonald House Charities, which helps keep millions of families together when they need it most.
McDonald's Progress:
- In early 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic affected McDonald’s operations, people, customers and communities. McDonald’s took a multi-pronged approach to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 – from supporting its Owner/Operators who are small businesses facing financial pressure, to ensuring no breaks in its supply chain, and partnering with the Red Cross to donate food and masks to communities in need.
- McDonald’s and its suppliers in the U.S. donated over 17.4 million pounds of food from suppliers and distribution centers – worth more than $27.2 million – to support local communities. Globally, McDonald’s donated millions of dollars in food to support local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In 2020, McDonald’s donated $20 million to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) as part of a $100 million commitment over the next five years to support families when they need it most.
McDonald's is proud of all it has accomplished over 2020-2021, but its work doesn’t stop when it achieves its goals. McDonald's knows there are significant challenges yet to come, and it looks forward to being part of the solution.
Work for a company making a positive impact
As one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, McDonald’s knows it has a responsibility to drive real change against some of the world’s pressing social and environmental challenges. It’s a responsibility the company takes seriously and an opportunity for progress it embraces.
Ready to make a positive change in your career? Start by discovering the latest job opportunities at McDonald's.
Find out more
Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.