Have you ever wondered just how much beef McDonald’s uses in a year?
The answer is staggering. With millions of burgers sold every day, the fast-food giant is one of the largest purchasers of beef in the world.
But with this massive demand comes a significant environmental impact. From greenhouse gas emissions to deforestation, the beef industry has been linked to a range of environmental issues.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the amount of beef McDonald’s uses each year and explore the company’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.
How Much Beef Does McDonald’s Use In A Year?
According to estimates, McDonald’s purchases as much as 1.9 billion pounds of beef each year. This staggering amount of meat requires the company and its suppliers to slaughter over 7 million cattle annually.
While this may seem like a lot, it’s important to note that McDonald’s is just one player in the global beef industry. In fact, the beef industry as a whole is responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation.
Beef production requires a significant amount of resources, including feed, water, and land. Cows also release high levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, through their burps and manure. As a result, the beef industry has been linked to climate change and other environmental issues.
The Scale Of McDonald’s Beef Consumption
McDonald’s is the largest buyer of beef in the United States, purchasing about 800 million pounds of beef annually, which accounts for three percent of U.S. beef consumption. When you trace the supply chain upstream, you find yourself at one of the roughly 400,000 cattle farms that provide meat that eventually ends up in a McDonald’s burger. Many of these farms are small operations with 50 or fewer head of cattle. These farms are just the beginning of a value chain that includes ranches, dairy farms, cattle stockers, feedlots, beef packers, and processors.
McDonald’s plans to eventually buy 100 percent of its beef from sources that are “verified sustainable.” To achieve this goal, the company will begin buying a portion of its beef from sustainable sources by 2016. However, McDonald’s has not committed to a date for when it will obtain all of its beef from sustainable sources or how much it will begin with in 2016. The company is currently in the process of meeting with stakeholders to come up with a viable definition of “sustainable beef.”
Given the scale of McDonald’s beef consumption, any changes that the company makes will have a significant impact on the beef industry. The focus on improving beef sourcing comes as studies have found that beef farming has significant negative impacts on the environment compared to other meats. Beef is also the least efficient way to produce protein. At McDonald’s, beef accounts for 28 percent of its carbon footprint. While “sustainable beef” burgers could mean a price increase, greater knowledge of where the beef comes from could help make up for the likely higher prices and improve McDonald’s reputation.
The Environmental Impact Of Beef Production
The environmental impact of beef production is a complex issue that encompasses various factors. One of the most significant impacts is the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Cows, particularly beef cattle, produce methane during digestion, which is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Additionally, the use of fossil fuels in farming operations and transportation also adds to the carbon footprint of beef production.
Another environmental impact of beef production is the degradation of land and water resources. The production of feed crops for livestock often requires significant amounts of water and can contribute to soil erosion and nutrient depletion. Overgrazing can also lead to soil erosion and degradation, which can have long-lasting effects on the ecosystem.
The beef industry also contributes to deforestation, as forests are cleared to make way for pasture and feed crops. This not only destroys habitats for wildlife but also reduces the ability of forests to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
However, it’s important to note that not all beef production has the same environmental impact. Sustainable farming practices such as rotational grazing, regenerative agriculture, and reduced use of antibiotics and hormones can help mitigate some of the negative impacts of beef production. Additionally, supporting local and small-scale producers can reduce the environmental impact associated with transportation and industrial farming practices.
McDonald’s Efforts To Reduce Environmental Footprint
In recent years, McDonald’s has announced several sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental footprint. Its 2018 sustainability plan pledged to reduce total emissions from its restaurants and offices by 36% by 2030, as well as reduce “emissions intensity” across its supply chain by 31% compared to 2015 levels. These targets were approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2018.
In October of 2021, the company announced a commitment to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050 and joined the United Nations Race to Zero campaign. McDonald’s has also committed to adapting its climate targets to keep global temperature rises below 1.5°C through the SBTi Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign.
While these initiatives are significant, some climate experts argue that McDonald’s is still largely dodging the one bold step it must take to significantly reduce emissions: dramatically reducing the amount of beef it serves. Beef production is particularly problematic due to the high levels of methane released by cows and the amount of resources required to produce a pound of meat.
Critics have urged McDonald’s to overhaul its menu and serve more low-carbon options like the meat-free McPlant burger. The company has made some progress in this area, reducing the amount of virgin fossil fuel-based plastic in its Happy Meals by 90%. However, some argue that these efforts are not enough and that more action is needed to address the environmental impact of beef production.
The Future Of Sustainable Beef In Fast Food Industry
In response to the environmental impact of beef production, the fast food industry has begun to take steps towards sustainability. McDonald’s, one of the largest purchasers of beef globally, has committed to sourcing a portion of its beef from sustainable suppliers in its top 10 markets. The company has also founded the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) and launched various initiatives to promote sustainable practices in its supply chain.
However, there are still challenges in making beef truly sustainable in the fast food industry. McDonald’s and other QSRs face the dilemma of how to source beef sustainably while continuing to provide inexpensive and consistent burgers to their customers. There is also a lack of clear goals and commitments from McDonald’s regarding the proportion of their beef that will be sustainable by 2020.
To truly make beef sustainable, fast food companies will need to use their social power to influence consumer behavior. This includes educating consumers on the harm caused by beef consumption and incentivizing them to buy products with reduced beef or alternative offerings. Fast food companies may also need to consider increasing prices on pure beef products to encourage consumers to change their behavior.