Meticulous steps such as monitoring suppliers' plants and checking government stamps are taken to make sure that McDonald's suppliers do not sell any beef that has been irhported from another area. McDonald's European Environmental Partnership Conference for Packaging and Food suppliers was held in January 1994 and attended by 130 suppliers from across Europe. The next conference will be held in early 1996. All McDonald's packaging suppliers receive environmental audits annually. Light sensors are installed in a high percentage of restaurants to reduce internal electrical lighting levels in relation to external brightness.
High frequency lighting with low energy tubes reduces electricity consumption.
The remaining lighting comes on at the peak trading times. Electrical capacitors have been installed in all restaurants to reduce electricity losses through leakage. In 1994, CFC-free air conditioning installations were introduced to a number of restaurants. Sophisticated building management systems operate equipment, lighting, plant operation, temperatures and air flow to reduce electricity consumption. The other syrups have been converted in all restaurants to a 'Bag in Box' system utilising a polyethylene sleeve.