McDonald's to use 100% solar power for US supply chain

McDonald's will purchase 470,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy every year from Enel North America’s Blue Jay solar project in Texas to support all of the energy needs of its US logistics supply chain.

The fast-food giant and all five of its North American Logistics Council members, including Armada, Earp Distribution, Martin Brower, Mile Hi Food,s and The Anderson-DuBose Co, will also acquire renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Enel North America.

The renewable energy to be purchased is enough to avoid 170,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, or about 80 million trucking miles.

McDonald’s has been investing in renewable energy for years as part of broader environmental goals to become more sustainable.

The company has vowed to achieve “net zero emissions” by 2050 as part of an effort to limit the impact of climate change.

Supply chain emissions are particularly difficult to manage because a company can’t necessarily impact what its suppliers do.

And trucking in particular is a massive contributor to climate change, amounting for more than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions.

The solar energy to be purchased is enough to power the needs of 900 McDonald’s restaurants in the US every year.