McDonald’s UAE Marks 20 Million Kilometers Fueled by Biodiesel, Reducing CO2 Emissions in Their Supply Trucks

Press release

Published December 19th, 2021 - 11:55 GMT

McDonald’s UAE Marks 20 Million Kilometers Fueled by Biodiesel, Reducing CO2 Emissions in Their Supply Trucks

McDonald’s Biodiesel program in partnership with Neutral Fuels converts used cooking oil from restaurants into 100% biodiesel

Highlights

McDonald's UAE is pleased to announce the latest milestone of its biodiesel program

McDonald's UAE is pleased to announce the latest milestone of its biodiesel program, which gets used cooking oil from their restaurants converted to 100% biodiesel to fuel their supply trucks. To date, McDonald’s UAE’s supply trucks have traveled 20 million kilometers on pure biodiesel, saving 16,761,117 kg of carbon dioxide and related greenhouse gasses - equivalent to the weight of 33,522 camels. McDonald's UAE reduces its CO2 emissions through the biodiesel program with Neutral Fuels, compared to driving on regular petro-diesel.

The biodiesel program, launched in 2011, stems from a partnership between McDonald's UAE and Neutral Fuels aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the brand's restaurants. It also enhances a sustainable circular economy for the restaurant chain. More than 8,412,496 liters of used cooking oil have been converted into biodiesel, which has exponentially reduced McDonald's UAE carbon footprint. In fact, recycling impact until date has the same impact as:

- Recycling 50.791 million plastic bags

- Recycling 114,802 car tires

- Offsetting the emissions from the manufacture of over 1 million running shoes

Commenting on the milestone, Walid Fakih, General Manager at McDonald's UAE, said, "Focusing on the environment is key for us at McDonald's UAE. We are glad to work on this program with Neutral Fuels which helped us reduce the amount of carbon emissions, and we will continue to promote sustainable and regenerative practices - for communities today and in the future."

To find out more about McDonald’s UAE and the biodiesel program, visit our website https://www.mcdonalds.com/ae/biodiesel-initiative.html

Background Information

McDonald’s

In 1917, 15-year-old Ray Kroc lied about his age to join the Red Cross as an ambulance driver, but the war ended before he completed his training. He then worked as a piano player, a paper cup salesman and a Multimixer salesman.

In 1954, he visited a restaurant in San Bernardino, California that had purchased several Multimixers. There he found a small but successful restaurant run by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald, and was stunned by the effectiveness of their operation. They produced a limited menu, concentrating on just a few items – burgers, fries and beverages – which allowed them to focus on quality and quick service.

They were looking for a new franchising agent and Kroc saw an opportunity. In 1955, he founded McDonald’s System, Inc., a predecessor of the McDonald’s Corporation, and six years later bought the exclusive rights to the McDonald’s name and operating system. By 1958, McDonald’s had sold its 100 millionth hamburger