McDonald’s Canada’s First Green Restaurant

Like many other markets within the McDonald’s System, McDonald’s Canada is exploring the potential environmental and economic advantages of sustainable restaurant design and features.

In December 2008, the first Canadian McDonald’s restaurant built to LEED® specifications was completed in Beauport, Quebec, by owner/operator Guy Dionne in partnership with the Canadian Green Building Council. Everything about the design and construction of this restaurant is aligned with the goal of making it an example of respect for the environment.

In November 2011, the Beauport restaurant received official LEED® Silver certification. The restaurant features many innovative sustainable design elements, including:

- 89 percent of the construction waste was recycled or reused, instead of being sent to a landfill;

- A solar back wall that allows the restaurant to recover the sun’s heat and reduce energy consumption;

- Almost 40 percent water consumption reduction with low-flow plumbing fixtures;

- Nearly 100 percent of the wood used during construction meets the highest environmental criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council; and

- Bicycle storage and changing rooms/showers for employees and two reserved parking spots for hybrid vehicles.