A net zero carbon McDonald's has opened in what the company believes is a UK first. The wind turbine and solar panel-powered restaurant is in Market Drayton, Shropshire. Recycled IT equipment and household goods make up the building's cladding, signs are from used coffee beans and insulation is provided by sheep wool. The fast-food company said it would be used as a "blueprint" for other sites and work has started to roll it out. It is the first restaurant in the UK due to be verified as net zero emissions for construction using the UK Green Building Council's (UKGBC's) net zero carbon buildings framework. McDonald's and other fast food suppliers have previously come under fire from investors who signed a letter asking the firms to reduce the carbon footprint of their meat and dairy supply chains.Anna Jones, Greenpeace UK’s Head of Food and Forests, stated that any claims of carbon neutrality will be nothing more than’McGreenwash’ as long as meat and dairy remain key menu items. McDonald’s produces more than 53 million metric tonnes of carbon per year – that’s more emissions than Norway – and beef accounts for roughly a third of McDonald’s climate footprint.
