McDonald’s UAE reports environmental milestone

McDonald’s UAE has announced a major achievement in protecting the environment, as its logistics fleet of biodiesel delivery trucks clocked a whopping 10,000,000 kilometres. Since the launch of the McDonald’s UAE Biodiesel Initiative seven years ago, 8,563 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions have been saved, contributing to improve air quality in the country. The McDonald’s UAE Biodiesel Initiative underscores the benefits of using biodiesel and how it can help enhance air quality in line with the government’s Air Quality Strategy 2017 – 2021.

Since July 2011, McDonald’s UAE’s logistics fleet has been running on fuel made from used vegetable oil from their restaurants in the UAE. The biodiesel is converted by Dubai-based company ‘Neutral Fuels’, a UAE-backed venture that makes use of environment-friendly technology. The initiative is part of Dubai’s green schemes and is a team effort that also incorporates Dubai FDI, the foreign investment promotion arm of the Department of Economic Development.

“At McDonald’s UAE we strongly champion the cause of protecting the environment. This is evident with our various campaigns and our long-running partnership with the Emirates Environment Group (EEG). The Biodiesel Initiative is an example of how McDonald’s UAE is helping improve our communities by contributing to prevent the degradation of air quality in the country. Having covered 10,000,000 kilometres, our logistics fleet has saved as much as 100% of CO2 emissions, thereby helping improve the air we breathe,” says Rafic Fakih, managing director and partner at McDonald’s UAE.

“According to the UAE government, transportation represents 20% of our country’s carbon footprint. When we started Neutral Fuels in 2011, McDonald’s was the very first company to fully adopt this clean, green fuel. Seven years later, look at the massive reduction in greenhouse gases that we’ve achieved together! Thanks to McDonald’s showing other companies the way, many are now using our biofuel, but the truth is that every company in the world needs to take responsible action now to reduce its carbon footprint at every level. Using biofuel is one of the quickest and easiest ways to do that,” adds Karl Feilder, founder and CEO of Neutral Fuels.