Dawn Meats has won a sustainability award from McDonald’s for its beef programme in Ireland. It is one of four european winners in the McDonald’s 2014 Best of Sustainable Supply Awards.
Four out of the 11 category winners were from Europe. The winners were announced in a global report highlighting how suppliers have achieved significant results by identifying opportunities and applying sustainable solutions in diverse places around the world.
McDonald’s leadership and industry experts recognised accomplishments across eight platforms: Climate Change and Energy; Water; Waste; Land and Biodiversity; Human Health and Welfare; Animal Health and Welfare; Community Impact and Economics. From nearly 600 submissions received, 51 projects are featured in this year’s Best of Sustainable Supply report and 11 were recognised as category winners.
Keith Kenny, Senior Director, McDonalds Supply Chain Europe, said: “At McDonald’s Europe, we recognise that all our suppliers play a vital role in helping us to continuously improve our supply chain sustainability and performance. We are very proud that so many case studies from European suppliers were selected for the Best of Sustainable Supply finals, four of which won their categories. These are suppliers whose commitment, innovation and passion for our business really sets them apart. We believe that by working closely together we can make a real difference and it’s fantastic to be able to recognise the achievements of suppliers that are demonstrating sustainability leadership across Europe.”
Dawn Meats Ireland won the Economics award for boosting the profitability of Irish beef farming. Other european winners included Arla Foods and FrieslandCampina.
According to McDonald’s it aims to begin purchasing verified sustainable beef in 2016. Burgers remain one of McDonald’s most iconic menu items. According to McDonald’s, it has worked hand-in-hand with suppliers to get better at responsible purchasing. Its commitment, it says, to a goal of purchasing verified sustainable beef, is a big challenge because there hasn’t been a universal definition of sustainable beef.
Part of its plan for sustainable beef includes supporting the development of global principles and criteria in 2014; developing targets for purchasing verified sustainable beef, and beginning to purchase verified sustainable beef during 2016. It says its vision is that McDonald’s beef would come from farmers and processors who create economic value and nutritious protein through verifiable and diverse production systems.