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DUBAI, UAE – McDonald’s UAE today announced that its logistics fleet of biodiesel delivery trucks have clocked a whopping 10,000,000 kilometers since the launch of the initiative seven years ago, saving 8,563 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the process and contributing to improve air quality in the country.
McDonald’s UAE is firmly committed to giving back to communities it operates in and this milestone represents an enormous achievement in protecting the environment. The McDonald’s UAE Biodiesel Initiative underscores the benefits of using biodiesel and how it can help enhance air quality in line with the government’s Air Quality Strategy 2017 – 2021.
Since July 2011, McDonald’s UAE’s logistics fleet has been running on fuel made from used vegetable oil from their restaurants in the UAE. The biodiesel is converted by Dubai-based company ‘Neutral Fuels’, a UAE-backed venture that makes use of environment-friendly technology. The initiative is part of Dubai’s green schemes and is a team effort that also incorporates Dubai FDI, the foreign investment promotion arm of the Department of Economic Development.
“At McDonald’s UAE we strongly champion the cause of protecting the environment. This is evident with our various campaigns and our long-running partnership with the Emirates Environment Group (EEG). The Biodiesel Initiative is an example of how McDonald’s UAE is helping improve our communities by contributing to prevent the degradation of air quality in the country. Having covered 10,000,000 kilometers, our logistics fleet has saved as much as 100% of CO2 emissions, thereby helping improve the air we breathe,” said Rafic Fakih, Managing Director and Partner at McDonald’s UAE.
Karl Feilder, founder and CEO of Neutral Fuels, paid tribute to the company’s early adoption of biofuel. “According to the UAE government, transportation represents 20% of our country’s carbon footprint. When we started Neutral Fuels in 2011, McDonald’s was the very first company to fully adopt this clean, green fuel. Seven years later, look at the massive reduction in greenhouse gases that we’ve achieved together! Thanks to McDonald’s showing other companies the way, many are now using our biofuel, but the truth is that every company in the world needs to take responsible action now to reduce its carbon footprint at every level. Using biofuel is one of the quickest and easiest ways to do that.”
The enormity of the achievement becomes evident when the numbers are put into real-world context. Using biodiesel results in 100% reduction in the total carbon footprint, as stated by the UAE’s Ministry of Energy. This, in turn, translates to a 100% reduction in CO2 and CH4 gases. Furthermore, Biodiesel does not contain Sulphur and use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide (41% reduction), carbon dioxide (78% reduction), Sulphates (100% reduction) and particulate matter (55% reduction).
Burning Hydrocarbons produces several toxins such as Carbon monoxide, Sulfur oxides, Carbon dioxide as well as particulate matter that can cause various diseases such as cancer and heart diseases.
While the distance of 10,000,000 kilometers is equivalent to a round trip to the moon 13 times, the amount of CO2 that would have otherwise been produced by a conventional diesel vehicle would have equaled burning over 4-million kilograms of coal.
The success of the Biodiesel Initiative is yet another example of how McDonald’s UAE consistently strives to protect the environment and contribute to the betterment of society and communities across the UAE.
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About McDonald’s UAE:
Operating since 1994, McDonald's UAE today has more than 160 restaurants geographically located to service customers in many areas. McDonald’s UAE is committed to the quality of the products it serves at each restaurant and also maintains an active social responsibility agenda.
In an ongoing effort to improve communities and highlight the continuous environmental benefits of its actions McDonald’s UAE has significantly reduced its carbon footprint since the launch of its biodiesel initiative in July 2011. 100% of McDonald’s used vegetable oil is collected from its outlets across the UAE and converted into 100% biodiesel which is used to fuel the company’s logistics fleet.
In addition, McDonald’s UAE prides itself on being a local member of the community and has been committed to being a responsible corporate citizen since the first restaurant opened in the UAE. Earlier this year, McDonald’s UAE signed a Cooperation Agreement with Emirates Red Crescent, to consolidate efforts and support Emirates Red Crescent’s charitable and humanitarian initiatives.
For further information about McDonald’s UAE please visit: www.mcdonalds.com or contact: Carine Arif or Bianca Riley from Weber Shandwick on McDonaldsuae@webershandwick.com or +971 4 445 42 22
@McdonaldsUAE
@McdonaldsUAE
McdonaldsUAE
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