HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

A commitment to WHAT?

Written August 30th, 2015 by Hasso Hering
Reading material comes along with the food.

Reading material comes along with the food.

While I was having breakfast at McDonald’s, I glanced at the back of the sales slip, which assured me of the company’s “commitment to deforestation.” Whoa! This did not sound like the kind of message you expect.

I’m not sure breakfast eaters at McDonald care all that much about forests. Forests may not be at the top of their list of things to worry about. Still, that’s quite an admission, being committed to deforestation. Almost as serious as being committed to pollution or, worse, changing the climate.

But wait. It’s not what it appears. Turns out that the bold-face “commitment” in big type (about 18 points, I would guess) is contradicted by the fine print below: “McDonald’s is committed to eliminating deforestation from our global supply chains,” it explains. “We expect our suppliers to operate their businesses ethically and abide by all applicable laws and regulations.”

Ah, “eliminating”! I guess that was too long a word for the headline, so the copywriter in charge of sales-slip promotion decided to leave it out. It worked, too. Made me read the message.

The breakfast was good. I liked it, as I like McDonald’s fare in general. And now I’m wondering only which part of it is made from ethically managed and legally harvested wood? (hh)





8 responses to “A commitment to WHAT?”

  1. Ray Kopczynski says:

    “And now I’m wondering only which part of it is made from ethically managed and legally harvested wood?”

    From your picture, potentially only three things?
    Sales slip
    Napkin
    “100% Pure Beef” paper-liner for the tray

  2. David Abarr says:

    According to McDonald’s owns figures, bags, tray liners are 100% recycled and actually find packaging is 72% recycled . So 35,000 restaurants using that much material I would guess adds up to just a few trees. Every time I eat at McDonald’s I know I shaved a few days off my life . Even the “healthy” stuff isn’t good for you. Just an observation :)

  3. tom cordier says:

    I think the observation that one shaves a few days off their life —is stupid.
    I’m content to enjoy egg-white delights a few days a week. and happy savvy business types have invested in franchises which create jobs and provide inexpensive meals

    • David Abarr says:

      It’s very well know McDonald’s is very unhealthy. McDonald’s has had very stagnant sales due to this. If you care about the community you live in support local small business . It requires more commitment and money to eat healthy and support local business. Sorry you see this as “stupid”

  4. Alex Paul says:

    Plant more trees.

  5. Warren Beeson says:

    I’m not sure how many days McDonald’s fare would shave off your life, but I do know that not eating anything will shave a whole bunch of days off your life. TINSTAFL!

 

 
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