McDonald’s has opened a “net zero-carbon” restaurant, believed to be the first in the UK, as verified by the UK Green Building Council’s buildings framework. The fast-food giant has debuted its first net-zero emissions restaurant with a drive-thru lane made from old car tires. The restaurant in Market Drayton, Shropshire, will act as a blueprint for future restaurants to improve upon the carbon footprint across the globe. Elaborating on the same, Beth Hart, a McDonald’s spokesperson, said “We’ve already started to roll out some of these innovations to other restaurants. But what is exciting about Market Drayton is the fact it will act as a blueprint for our future new builds.”
The restaurant is powered by renewable energy from two wind turbines and 92 square meters of solar panels and has walls insulated with British sheep wool. The building’s cladding is made from recycled IT equipment and white household goods, amounting to 250 square meters of materials. It even has a nature trail and garden designed by children from a local school to promote biodiversity and provide a habitat for wild animals.
Net-zero means not adding to the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This initiative is part of McDonald’s larger commitment to the planet. In September, the company pledged to make its Happy Meals more sustainable. Further plans to reduce its virgin plastic use by 90% by 2025. In October, the hamburger chain also announced its plans for reducing its global greenhouse gas emissions, outlining its goal of going net-zero by 2050.
“We’re trying to send a signal to our partners, to our investors, to our suppliers, to other brands in the global community, to policymakers, that we share that vision for 2050,” the company’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Jenny McColloch, told Reuters.
The UK’s new, net-zero location could become a big step forward for the world’s largest fast-food chain in terms of its plans of curbing emissions. According to a recent study by the Mirror, it is estimated that a Big Mac has the same carbon footprint as approximately eight miles driven in a car. About 80% of the total emissions come from its supply chain, particularly its use of meat and dairy products— one of the biggest buyers of beef in the world.
According to the FAO, the meat and dairy industries produce 14.5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Beef is a big opportunity to help drive impact in the world with our farmers and rancher partners,” McColloch explained.
McDonald’s debuted its plant-based McPlant burger in the UK in September. Two months later, select locations in the U.S. began trailing the meatless burger. While the company does not plan on taking meat or dairy from the menu any time soon, more vegan options could be on the way.
