food , packaging , logistics , construction , real estate and marketing services .

She managed the COVID-19 crisis without supply chain interruption to the fast food company ’ s 70 million daily customers in 37,000 restaurants across 100 countries .

Sustainability is about taking the long view Asked what her top priorities are on sustainability , DeBiase said : “ I think for me , it ’ s all about what is next . With sustainability , if you want to make true impact and change , it takes a commitment and a vision that goes beyond a few years . Also , in my leadership role , how do I ensure that everyone feels like it ' s their responsibility ?”

DeBiase ’ s aim is to embed sustainability into everything McDonalds does – “ into our people practices within HR , into our communities and also into what we stand for ”.

She adds : “ The question is one of making the entire leadership team feel we ' re all accountable for this together , just as we ' re all accountable for the brand . Those are two big areas where I personally can help support the team and the company .”

Sustainable beef programme running in Canada On sourcing sustainable beef for McDonalds burgers , DeBiase says : “ It ' s a journey , and I love it . We ’ re one of the founding members of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef . We ' re very aligned with a beef value chain being environmentally sound , socially responsible and economically viable .

“ Our first pilot market is in Canada , where our verified sustainable beef pilot is currently underway . I have had the honour of meeting all of the ranch owners in Canada over the past couple of years . They ' ve been amazing . They ' re really leading the beef industry in many ways .

“ By the time we conclude the pilot in the second quarter this year , we ' ll have well over 100 of those producer verifications done . We are absolutely on track to have our first purchases of sustainable beef in Canada this year . “ We also have a few other things going on . The United States has a beef roundtable and so does Brazil . We are working very hard to have sustainable beef for the Olympics restaurants . So watch this space .”

She added that , in Europe , McDonald ’ s is working with the Sustainable Agricultural Initiative .

“ They ' ve been focusing on sustainable beef , and we ' ve got some pilots and tests going there ,” she said . “ We ' ve had several markets where we ' re moving forward .”

McDonald ' s has 70 million daily customers

37,000 restaurants across 100 countries

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