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HomeCommunityEnvironmentMcDonald’s V.I. Will Participate in Earth Hour for 9th Consecutive Year

McDonald’s V.I. Will Participate in Earth Hour for 9th Consecutive Year

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. is the world’s largest McDonald’s franchisee, and it operates the brand in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has announced that from 8:30-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, all its restaurants will turn off their outdoor lights in support of Earth Hour.

Earth Hour was started 10 years ago, by the WWF (World Wildlife Foundation) to increase awareness of climate action. Each year, Earth Hour unites millions of people around the globe in the world’s largest grassroots movement. This year will be McDonald’s Virgin Islands ninth year participating.

“For Arcos Dorados it is very important to participate in Earth Hour, since it is in line with the company’s philosophy. Every day, we try to leave a smaller mark on our planet by managing waste from our restaurants in a responsible way and implementing actions to reduce water and power consumption, and source local ingredients for a more effective supply chain,” said Lyana Latorre, senior director of corporate social engagement at Arcos Dorados.

Arcos Dorados has a strong commitment to the planet thereby contributing by carrying out different actions:

  • Reuse of condensed water drained from air-conditioning systems of restaurants to irrigate gardens, wash facades and different areas of the premises such as the Drive-Thru. The use of recycled water allows for the reduced consumption of water and energy.
  • Installation of Low Oil Volume (LOV) fryers in restaurants. This technology saves up to 40 percent of oil and requires less energy to heat up.
  • Green Restaurants: They are built or redesigned to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in which rainwater collectors are used for the cleaning of parking lots and flushing toilet bowls. They have a wind-powered installer that allows them to generate electricity using the wind, as well as having LED (Low Emitting Diode) luminaires that use less energy. These restaurants are in Argentina, Brazil, México and Puerto Rico.
  • Other measures taken by the Company to protect the planet are: have 100 percent sustainable coffee certified by the Rainforest Alliance in the different markets and sustainable fish certified by the Marine Stewardship Council; as well as working alongside the Global Roundtable of Sustainable Beef to develop the standard and serve meet from sustainable practices.

To learn more about the commitment of Arcos Dorados to the planet, visit  www.arcosdorados.com

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