McDonald’s increases sustainability of energy supply together with Eneco

McDonald’s and Eneco will be working together to further shape the energy transition of McDonald’s. McDonald’s aims to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from its restaurants and production chain in the Netherlands before 2030. To this end, McDonald’s will be switching to 100% green energy generated by Dutch solar parks and wind farms that are yet to be developed. Together, the partners will also look into possibilities to reduce the energy consumption of the restaurants and for McDonald’s to generate its own energy in order to further increase the sustainability of its energy supply.

McDonald’s is working towards increasing sustainability in many areas, including sustainable construction and logistics and a zero waste approach. Energy-related aspects also offer many opportunities. Focal points of the collaboration with Eneco will be a 15% reduction of energy consumption by 2030 and the use of locally generated sustainable energy. McDonald’s in the Netherlands thus contributes to the company’s worldwide ambition to achieve a 36% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from its restaurants and offices by 2030.

Restaurants
In January 2023, McDonald’s will switch to regionally generated solar and wind energy supplied by Eneco in order to increase the sustainability of its 254 restaurants in the Netherlands. Depending on their location, restaurants will also be able to generate their own sustainable energy. Examples of how this can be achieved include solar panels on the roof of the restaurant and the construction of a solar carport. For those moments when the sun isn’t shining and there is no wind, the possibility of storing energy will be examined. Naturally, the matter of how existing restaurants can stop using natural gas will also be addressed.

As the challenges differ from restaurant to restaurant, in each case local possibilities for increasing the sustainability of the energy supply will be considered. The potential for installing solar panels may be limited for a restaurant located in a city centre, while a restaurant along the motorway may be dependent on a natural gas connection. Together we will be working on creating smart solutions to further increase the sustainability of the energy supply and energy consumption of the restaurants.

Michèle Boudria, managing director McDonald’s Netherlands: “By reducing our energy consumption and increasing the sustainability of our energy supply we aim to take a next major step. We believe that we must take responsibility for this, together with our restaurants. Working together with an innovative sustainability expert such as Eneco allows us to not only make the switch to 100% sustainable energy, but also take significant steps towards optimising and increasing the sustainability of the energy consumption in our restaurants. In Eneco we have found a partner that will accompany us on our step by step journey towards increased sustainability. I am looking forward to implementing this ambition together with the Franchisees.”

As Tempelman, CEO Eneco: “As the energy partner of McDonald’s Netherlands, we are pleased to be contributing to increasing the sustainability of the McDonald’s restaurants and production chain in the Netherlands. By working together in this way, we are also joining forces to accelerate the energy transition.”