McDonald’s promises to go deforestation-free

Fast food chain McDonald’s recently updated its commitment to go deforestation-free. The company is a major buyer of beef and packaging—two products that are linked to forest and bushland destruction in Australia. McDonald’s has a responsibility to ensure it’s not contributing to Australia’s extinction crisis.

McDonald’s move is good news: the company says it will aim to prevent the destruction of all natural ecosystems, not just forests. Its commitment, for the most part, follows international best practice. McDonald’s also says it will respect the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent for indigenous peoples.

However, McDonald’s can’t stop there. It’s still unclear whether it is even checking that its beef is coming from the destruction of Australia’s unique forests and bushland. McDonald’s commitment for packaging also relies on the certification scheme PEFC, which has repeatedly been linked to destructive logging in Australia. McDonald’s needs to make sure it’s actually verifying its supply chains and avoiding dodgy certification schemes. In keeping with international best practice it should aim to go deforestation and conversion-free by the end of 2025, not 2030.

Adele Chasson, Manager of Corporate Advocacy and Engagement at the Wilderness Society, says: “McDonald’s new commitment is a positive promise for Australia’s forests and bushland. If McDonald’s follows through with action, it can help iconic Aussie animals like koalas and quolls escape extinction. Companies who source and sell products with deforestation risk - like beef, pulp and timber and aluminium - have an important role to play in helping protect forests and a responsibility to clean up their supply chains. They should follow McDonald’s footsteps.”