Day 060 - 02 Dec 94 - Page 23
1 more information and we got more information.
2
3 Q. You said in your statement, "there was no concern about the
4 environmental impact of CFCs". It does not say about the
5 environmental impact of delayed emission of CFCs from
6 fast-food packaging materials. You said there was no
7 concern about the environmental impact of CFCs, but now you
8 have admitted that, in fact, since, whenever it is, the
9 mid-70s or late 70s there was a great deal of concern, even
10 leading to government regulations in the States?
11 A. I am in my statement talking about polystyrene foam
12 packaging and not aerosol sprays.
13
14 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Did you think that there was any concern in
15 1986 about polystyrene foam packaging blown by CFC in that
16 the time would come, or might come, when some of the CFC
17 was released into the atmosphere?
18 A. No, I did not, my Lord, because we simply did not know
19 at that time. I really object to this line of questioning
20 because, frankly, this initiative that I personally took
21 was taken in good faith. It was taken ahead of any
22 pressure. It was taken ahead of the Montreal Protocol and,
23 frankly, I think what we did was a very visionary thing at
24 that time.
25
26 MR. MORRIS: What, start using CFCs in 1986?
27 A. No, to make the change when we did.
28
29 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Might I suggest, Mr. Morris, the witness has
30 said that when he is talking about concern about the
31 environmental impact of CFCs, he was restricting his
32 consideration to CFCs as used in the production of
33 polystyrene foam packaging. You may or may not accept that
34 is what he meant, but that is the basis upon which he said
35 it. If you are suggesting that there was concern about the
36 environmental impact of CFCs as used to blow polystyrene
37 packaging (1) and that he should have been aware of it (2),
38 then put your ammunition for that to him.
39
40 MR. MORRIS: OK. (To the witness): On the third page of that
41 document under April 1983, it says specifically: "April
42 1983. During international talks, Norway, Sweden and
43 Finland submitted a world plan for a worldwide ban on CFCs
44 and aerosols and limitations on all uses of CFCs." Were
45 you aware of this kind of generalised concern about CFCs in
46 all products before the mid-80s?
47 A. No. I was aware of the concern in our aerosols at that
48 time. I am obviously aware now, but I certainly was not
49 then.
50
51 Q. Would you say that since the late 80s, maybe since 89/90,
52 McDonald's has become more aware of environmental concerns?
53 A. Of environmental concerns generally?
54
55 Q. Yes.
56 A. It has certainly gained momentum. It started long
57 before that, but it has gained momentum through the late
58 80s and into the 90s.
59
60 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Let us take our five-minute break now.
