Browse
Engage
Research
In response to shareholder concerns, McDonald’s Corporation -- the largest potato buyer in the U.S. -- has agreed to survey its American supply chain and promote best practices for reducing the use of pesticides on spuds.
The move, announced yesterday, was prompted by a shareholder resolution filed by the Bard College Endowment, Newground Social Investment and the AFL-CIO Reserve Fund. The shareholder resolution on environmental and worker health issues was the first of its kind to be filed by a college or university endowment.
The resolution was withdrawn following McDonald’s agreement to survey its potato suppliers in the U.S., compile best practices in pesticide reduction, recommend them to the firm’s global suppliers via the McDonald’s Global Potato Board, report best practices findings to the shareholders and include those findings in the company’s annual corporate social responsibility report.
The Investor Environmental Health Network provided key support in development of the agreement that was the product of collaboration between shareholders and McDonald’s.
Richard Liroff, executive director of the Investor Environmental Health Network and a guest columnist for GreenBiz.com, said in a statement, “Leadership companies such as Sysco (which supplies Wendy’s), General Mills, and Campbell’s have already demonstrated that pesticide use reduction makes sense from both an environmental health and business perspective. We welcome McDonald’s stepping up to the plate and look forward to supporting the company’s efforts to reduce pesticide use in the future.”
In another supply chain development involving a global firm, coffee certification program Utz Certified Good Inside said yesterday that it will honor the IKEA Group for being the first retailer in the U.S. to offer 100 percent traceable coffee. Recognition of the firm will be made at the Specialty Coffee Association of America conference from April 16 to 19 in Georgia.
Image — CC licensed by Flickr user AlastairMoore.
The Washington State Potato
The Washington State Potato Commission and the Washington Asparagus Commission recently held a fundraiser for U.S. Senator Patty Murray in Richland, Washington on November 12, 2009.
The purpose of the fundraiser was to thank and reward Senator Patty Murray for the millions of dollars in potato and asparagus research appropriations and earmarks that the Senator has secured for the Washington State potato and asparagus industries over the past several years.
During the November 12th fundraiser, representatives from Washington State Potato Commission and Washington Asparagus Commission indicated that they would continue to raise money for and support Senator Patty Murray if she continues to bring home the earmarks for them.
The fundraiser was attended by 25 representatives of the Washington potato and asparagus industries.
Irony
The irony is that about 10 years ago, McDonalds responded to potential activist pressure and quietly killed the emerging biotech products in potatoes. They simply asked their suppliers if they could guarantee non-GMO fries for them and that was the end of it. Had biotech potatoes continued, there would have been huge reductions in insecticide use to control beetles and aphids because the potatoes have built-in protection. Of course the oil and sweeteners that McDonalds uses have come from GMO plants for more than 10 years.
Welcome news
I agree with Richard Liroff --this is welcome news from McDonald’s. More and more these days, stakeholders are holding corporations accountable with regard to social and environmental performance, and that means that all elements of business, including supply chains, are under more scrutiny. There is an element of risk with pesticide use, as well. So, to me, McDonald’s actions also exemplify smart supply chain risk management.
Tim
www.2sustain.com