Day 010 - 11 Jul 94 - Page 54
1 pin-point it within some of the material, if you wish?
2 Q. Were you aware at the time that McDonald's were still
planning to carry on using styrofoam packaging,
3 polystyrene foam packaging, worldwide or in many
countries?
4 A. We expected that McDonald's, that actually we
anticipated that we would need to pay attention to
5 McDonald's implementation of their withdrawal of foam food
packaging; that, in fact, it might take more time and they
6 might decide not to -- they might go back on what they
said.
7
In so far as what they were going to in other countries at
8 the time, we did not expect that it would affect other
countries except in so far as McDonald's was willing to
9 extend those policies to other branches around the globe.
10 Q. What is your opinion of what McDonald's Corporation should
do on this polystyrene foam issue around the world?
11 A. Well, I think, in a very general sense, they ought to
live by the same standards they live by in their home
12 country, to the extent they wish to be perceived as a
model corporate citizen around the world, that they ought
13 to at the very least live up to what standards they set
for themselves in the United States.
14
Q. Why do you think they have not withdrawn polystyrene foam
15 yet in other countries?
A. I think it has to do with the fact that they have not
16 been subjected to the kind of Grassroots community
pressure that was brought to bear on them in the United
17 States.
18 Q. Very briefly -- I have nearly finished now -- did you feel
it your responsibility in the campaign to propose an
19 alternative packaging system for McDonald's?
A. We recommended that they consider alternatives such as
20 packaging that was made from recycled paper, or that they
consider maximising their use of reusable materials in
21 their restaurants. At various stages McDonald's did
respond to those issues, although not necessarily directly
22 to us, to the organisation.
23 Q. Have you heard of the argument put forward by McDonald's
that reusable packaging would be more damaging to the
24 environment than polystyrene foam packaging? For example,
if they had to use dishwashers, it would be a large energy
25 use. Have you heard those arguments?
A. I was aware of those arguments and I am aware they
26 continue to be advanced.
27 Q. What is your opinion of those arguments?
A. I think the argument that a disposable package is less
28 wasteful in terms of energy consumption is rather
questionable, that it seems to defy common sense. It
29 also, as far as I know, defies the laws of physics, and
the only possible explanation I can think as to how these
30 arguments have developed is that they do not fully account
for the energy consumption that is required from the
