McDonalds 2003 Annual Report Download - page 21

More recently, we joined
forces with a variety of
experts—including animal
welfare scientists, veterinari-
ans, physicians, suppliers
and environmental leaders—
to create McDonald’s Global
Policy on Antibiotics Use in
Animal Agriculture. Adopted
this past June, the policy
addresses growing concerns
about antibiotic resistance. It
requires suppliers with whom
we have direct relationships,
primarily poultry suppliers, to
phase out growth-promotion
uses of antibiotics approved
for use in human medicine.
The phase-out must be com-
pleted by the end of 2004.
“Preserving the efficacy
of life-saving antibiotics
is critical for our health.
Working together, McDonald’s
and Environmental Defense
leveraged the Company’s
purchasing power
to reduce antibiotics use in
poultry, beef and pork
production, helping to ensure
antibiotics will remain
effective for humans.”
Fred Krupp
President, Environmental Defense
“McDonald’s has made
significant strides to
incorporate social
responsibility
into its global operations.
McDonald’s focuses on
training its suppliers
on Code of Conduct
compliance across a range
of important issues
including health and safety,
labor rights and the
environment.”
Rev. David M. Schilling
Director, Global Corporate
Accountability Program, Interfaith
Center on Corporate Responsibility
sessions and through exter-
nal monitors who conduct
periodic inspections of facili-
ties that make products for
McDonald’s. In 2003,
suppliers from more than
70 countries attended our
training sessions, and third-
party compliance audits
were conducted in all areas
of the world.
Animal welfare
& beyond
McDonald’s was the first in the industry to
organize an Animal Welfare
Council of preeminent, inde-
pendent experts to provide
us with advice and recom-
mendations in this area.
We also led our industry in
implementing animal welfare
guidelines, supported by
audits for suppliers’ abattoir
facilities, to ensure good
handling practices.
McDonald’s 2003 page 19
In addition, our distribu-
tors use state-of-the-art equip-
ment to ensure our products
are maintained at the proper
temperatures at all times.
At the restaurant, they are
stored and prepared in a
manner that continues to
ensure their integrity and
quality.
What’s more, we pursue
continuous quality improve-
ments with passion, con-
stantly raising the bar on
our own stringent criteria,
encouraging innovation and
sharing best practices
throughout our supply chain.
Our dedication to safety
and quality extends to our
toys. For example, we use
state-of-the-art technology to
scientifically test the safety of
our Happy Meal toys and
other promotional items.
People practices
Consistent with our philosophy of treating
employees right, we insist
that our suppliers abide by
our Code of Conduct.
We continually challenge
our suppliers to find new
ways to protect the health,
safety and human rights of
their employees. We do this
through interactive training
Environmental
stewardship
We protect the environ- ment with the goal of
moving toward sustainability.
This means conserving
natural resources so that they
will be available for future
generations.
“McDonald’s efforts continue
to demonstrate the depth
of its commitment to bring
innovative and pragmatic
solutions to the world’s
conservation challenges.
By implementing
conservation purchasing
preferences for fish and
agricultural products,
McDonald’s can become
a positive force for
biodiversity.”
Glenn Prickett
Executive Director, The Center for
Environmental Leadership in
Business, Conservation International
On this front, we’ve
teamed up with our suppliers
and Conservation Interna-
tional, a leading biodiversity
non-governmental organiza-
tion, to establish a strategic
framework, measures and
performance goals for con-
tinuously enhancing environ-
mental stewardship within
our supply chain. One effort
currently underway involves
the creation of McDonald’s
Fisheries Standards, a
roadmap to facilitate the
sourcing of fish products for
our restaurants from sustain-
able fisheries.
quality