McDonald's commitment to supporting sustainable coffee farming 

As a food brand which believes in quality ethically produced products, McDonald's South Africa is committed to promoting farming practices that protect the environment while giving back to local communities.

Our formula for making delicious sustainable coffee ensures that each cup of our coffee delivers as much joy to your taste buds as it does to the environment. This is because, not only are our coffee beans sourced from farms that are Rainforest Alliance (RFA) certified, but our coffee products are made fresh from our outlets on a daily basis.

Like all ingredients that go into our food, our delicious range of coffee products can be traced back to an environmentally friendly sustainable farm that cares about our mission to bring only the most sustainable coffee ingredients to our customers.

The Rainforest Alliance works with more than 400,000 certified coffee producers in Latin America, East Africa, and Asia. Rainforest Alliance certified farms follow sustainable agricultural practices that protect the environment and promote biodiversity. To remain certified by the alliance, farms have to protect the natural habitats of animals, reduce water usage, and limit the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals.

These farmers face many challenges such as escalating temperatures, plant diseases, climatic shocks, and fluctuating pricing.

By connecting coffee farmers with ethical markets and offering training in climate-smart and regenerative growing techniques that increase yields and earnings, the Rainforest Alliance seeks to improve their position in the coffee market. Our certification scheme also supports new ideas like digital record-keeping, a continuous improvement strategy that encourages farmers to advance toward sustainable coffee production, and demands that coffee buyers invest in sustainable coffee production.

In sourcing our coffee beans from RFA certified farms, we also ensure that we promote social responsibility. By only sourcing coffee beans from Rainforest Alliance certified farms, we are also supporting farms that treat their workers fairly and give them safe working conditions, fair wages, and access to basic amenities. So, you can enjoy your morning or afternoon cuppa of 100% guilt-free coffee.

McDonald's exclusively uses 100% Arabica coffee beans which are the most preferred beans for coffee lovers worldwide. Renowned for its steady, mellow flavor, Arabica appeals to a wide audience thanks to being largely easy to drink compared to more robust beans and has a moderate amount of caffeine. It also pairs well with a variety of dishes.

The persistent effects of Covid-19 on supply chains, unfavorable weather in the key coffee-producing nations, inflation, and higher transit costs are just a few of the difficulties the global coffee industry is currently facing.

Despite challenges with supply since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as environmental challenges, slowing down production, we have remained committed to sticking to our RFA commitments as we believe this is the most responsible, ethically sound way to let our customers enjoy the best coffee beans in the world 100% guilt-free. This is the Power of the Bean.