McDonald's French Fries: A Report on Green Sourcing Processes

This report analyzes the green sourcing practices of McDonald's French Fries, focusing on the company's current methods and associated problems. It highlights issues such as pesticide use in potato farming and the health implications of ingredients like safflower oil and hydrogenated soybean oil. The report suggests recommendations for McDonald's, including adopting sustainable procurement methods, utilizing potato varieties less susceptible to pests, prioritizing local and organic sourcing, implementing integrated pest management, and reducing the use of harmful preservatives and additives like monosodium glutamate. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the importance of eco-friendly packaging and a commitment to environmental protection and public health, ultimately advocating for a sustainable green sourcing policy to enhance brand image, consumer trust, and long-term cost reduction. Desklib offers a range of similar solved assignments and resources for students.

Running head: GREEN SOURCING PROCESS OF MCDONALDS FRENCH FRIES
Green sourcing process of McDonalds French fries
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1GREEN SOURCING PROCESS OF MCDONALDS FRENCH FRIES
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Literature Review:...........................................................................................................................3
Green sourcing and current practices of McDonalds:.....................................................................4
Recommendations:..........................................................................................................................5
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

2GREEN SOURCING PROCESS OF MCDONALDS FRENCH FRIES
Executive summary
The report aims to analyze the issue of green sourcing practices of French fries of the company,
McDonalds. The first part of the essay discusses about the current practices of the McDonalds
and problems associated with their practices. The second part of the essay explains the possible
problems of the current practices and its effect on the environment, people and the consumers.
The final and the last part of the essay provide certain recommendations which the company
should adopt for their future prospects.

3GREEN SOURCING PROCESS OF MCDONALDS FRENCH FRIES
Introduction:
This aim of this paper is to systematically analyze the current sourcing practices of
French fries of McDonalds and provide recommendations to the company for the green sourcing
process of. The first part of the essay will focus on the literature review and the current practices
of the company while the next part will analyze the issue of green sourcing. Afterward, it
provides some recommendation to the company which it can adopt to ensure a green sourcing for
French fries.
McDonald is the largest chain of fast food spread across more than 119 countries and
serving almost 68 million customers worldwide (Mcdonalds.com, 2019). It has a range of food
items starting from cheeseburger, fried chickens, French fries and soft drinks.
Literature Review:
According to the opinion of Achillas et al., (2018) the top priority of a corporate business
organization is portrayal of the organization as a socially responsible and environmentally
sustainable body. In this regard, green supply chain and green sourcing of the products are
crucial which provides it a competitive edge in the market. Moreover, greener options are more
tangible and long standing. It has corporate benefits too in terms of broadening the business base.
This article reviews the green supply management; the strategic tool includes different
themes, like production, packaging, sales, logistics and environmental sustainability. However,
there are certain challenges of the green sourcing mechanism in its proper implementation.

4GREEN SOURCING PROCESS OF MCDONALDS FRENCH FRIES
Green sourcing and current practices of McDonalds:
According to Achillas et al., (2018) one of the top priorities of current business
Endeavour is to procure a green supply chain management which is inbound and outbound
logistics, production, packaging under the “green banner”. While French fries are the most sold
fast-food of the worlds, the company has certain shortcoming in terms its sourcing method. The
major ingredients of French fries are potatoes, canola oil, safflower oil, natural flavor, soybean
oil, citric acid, vegetable oil to name a few. The potatoes that are procured by McDonalds are of
the Russet Burbank potato species, which are produced by the farmers in the United States in
large number, are susceptible to bacteria and fungi. This leaves no chance to the farmers but to
use pesticides in large quantity. This leads to a situation called the pesticide drift which is the
residue of the pesticides from the land being carried away from the land and the rural
communities living near to the potato fields becomes victim of the situation (Forbes.com, 2019).
Data shows that due to the pesticides drift, the blown away parts containing carcinogen
disrupt the nervous system of the consumers and it is even more among the children. As
estimated , almost 98% of the potatoes are grow with heavy usage of pesticides (Forbes.com,
2019) This practice is harmful in many ways and not just for the farmers but even f for the
ecology and economy. This sourcing practice creates health hazards for the consumers, it creates
huge financial burden on the farmers for their expenditure on pesticides and finally it is not
environmentally viable. Send ingredient which is safflower oil heated at a very high temperature
which might cause inflammation in the human body (Forbes.com, 2019). The tasty touch which
is given to French fries contains the monosodium glutamate which causes the damages the

5GREEN SOURCING PROCESS OF MCDONALDS FRENCH FRIES
nervous system of the consumers especially those who are the regular consumers of fast-food.
Lastly, the hydrogenated soybean oil that is used in preparing the French fries can cause long
time damage to the DNA and even cancer for excessive consumption (Forbes.com, 2019). The
company faced much criticism due to the unsustainable ingredients used in the making of the
French fries and just because it uses locally grown potatoes, it does not mean that the other
ingredients safe and healthy. Compared to this company, there are other fast-food companies like
the Burgerville which uses locally made sustainable ingredients for their customers. It also uses
TBHQ which is an ingredient like a preservative; this causes increased asthma, hormone
disruption, skin races in the longer run.
Recommendations:
There is a need to develop green sourcing process for the company so that it gets a
competitive edge in the market. Firstly, the company should opt for a sustained method of
procurement of the supplies like potatoes and different oils and preservatives. It should ensure
that the farmers are given investment in their businesses and the burden of finances for buying
the pesticides do not directly fall on them.
Secondly, the company should adopt a different variety of potato which does not get
rotten easily so that the excessive use of the pesticides can be reduces to some extent. More than
90 % of the procurement of the potatoes has to be from the local farmers and complete organic.
Its slogan should be “fresh, organic and local”. It should opt for an integrated pest management
for the potatoes it procures. It should develop a habit of reducing the pesticide use to have a
massive impact in the market. It should stop its use of the preservative to reduce the health
hazards.

6GREEN SOURCING PROCESS OF MCDONALDS FRENCH FRIES
Thirdly, it should reduce the excessive use of monosodium glutamate that can damage the
nerve in a longer run of the consumers. It should opt some replacement for making the French
fries tasty and crispy. For example, it can opt a greener option of sea salt which not only makes
French fries smoky and exotic; it is a greener option which does not have health hazards.
The company should also focus more in the supply chain management for the French
fries. For example, it can procure greener ways of packaging. It should adopt eco-friendly
packaging that will reduce the excessive use of paper as container bags. The company has to
ensure that the procurement policy is based on its values of protecting the environment and
health of the people and go beyond the profit making motive.
Conclusion:
Green sourcing is important in reducing the long-term cost of the company, sustainable
and eco-friendly practices, risk management and efficient consumer friendly products. This helps
to give the company a competitive edge in the market, enhances their brand image and trust
among the consumers. It also helps to reduce the environment footprint by reducing the
environmental hazards. Hence, it is important for companies like McDonalds to have a
sustainable green souring and procurement policy in order to sustain longer in the market.

7GREEN SOURCING PROCESS OF MCDONALDS FRENCH FRIES
References
Achillas, C., Bochtis, D., Aidonis, D., & Folinas, D. (2018). Green Supply Chain
Management.
Forbes.com (2019). The Unfortunate Health Risks Of French Fries. [online] Forbes.com.
Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/06/14/the-unfortunate-health-
risks-of-french-fries/#79a00e2e1bdf [Accessed 4 Jan. 2019].
Mcdonalds.com (2019). Our History: Ray Kroc & The McDonald's Brothers |
McDonald's. [online] Mcdonalds.com. Available at:
https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/about-us/our-history.html [Accessed 4 Jan. 2019].