Arcos Dorados joins the RTRS to strengthen its commitment to sustainable production
Arcos Dorados is the operator of the McDonald’s brand in 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. There are more than 2,300 restaurants in the region, including owned businesses and sub-franchisees, where over 90,000 employees work to offer a purposeful service to millions of customers every day. Arcos Dorados reflects the values and commitments of the McDonald’s Corporation while keeping in mind the brand’s local experience. This alignment extends to the commitment to generate a positive impact in the communities where it operates, by means of social and environmental actions tied to the company’s business.
At Arcos Dorados, this work is guided by an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy entitled Recipe for the Future, which encompasses various action fronts based on aspects linked to the company’s business. One of them is the mission to offer a quality, safe and sustainable food by means of a responsible supply chain, at a moment when customers and communities are even more concerned about how their food is produced and where it comes from.
To that end, the company engages its supply chain with audits, globally recognised certifications and long-term trust relationships, seeking synergies with suppliers who are aligned with sustainability goals. In doing so, the company ensures that all processes are aligned with the company’s values and comply with best international practices.
As such, Arcos Dorados is committed to using animal feed made from responsibly produced soy in its supply chain for chicken-based products. With regard to the Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS), since 2020 the company has supported the responsible production of soybean by encouraging the acquisition of credits that, according to the company’s calculations, offset soy uptake in regions deemed by the company as of high deforestation priority. In Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru, suppliers acquirers RTRS Credits Supporting Responsible Soy according to their production and use of raw material from Arcos Dorados. RTRS-certified material of local origin were adopted in Brazil, while all other credits originated in Argentina.
For the company, being part of RTRS is a way of strengthening the commitments of Recipe for the Future while directly supporting and encouraging good agricultural practices and transparency by means of the RTRS credit system. Arcos Dorados joined RTRS as a member in 2022. According to Gabriel Serber, Vice-President of Social Commitment and Sustainable Development at Arcos Dorados, joining RTRS also allows the company to be closer to other stakeholders and soy producers and to represent the restaurant sector in the work that is carried out based on external demands and consumer demands. “With RTRS membership, we now have greater representation in an important discussion forum on the subject, as well as access to concepts and tools that can help us. As an example, the company uses the RTRS Soy and Corn Footprint Calculator – a globally validated tool with scientifically proven operability – to calculate the equivalent amount of soy used to feed chickens”, explains Serber.
According to Marcelo Visconti, Executive Director of RTRS, “the participation of Arcos Dorados in RTRS’ Round Table – coupled with its strategy to encourage producers and the production of responsible soy through the adoption of certified material – demonstrate how the commitments of relevant players in the sector can lead to tangible changes in the value chain”. He goes on to say that “these first steps that Arcos Dorados has taken in these years of work with RTRS are very motivating and we trust that we will continue to work together to face the challenges imposed by the transition to sustainable supply chains”.
To learn more, please visit: https://recipeforthefuture.com/
