Day 008 - 07 Jul 94 - Page 10
1 whether it is in the United States, Germany, New Zealand,
Japan, it is my job to keep abreast of this within the
2 McDonald's system. So that rather than relearn everything
in each country, we can share all technologies, all new
3 ideas, across the McDonald's system, so that we can advise
and counsel the country management who runs the McDonald's
4 in the particular country, to make the best decisions for
the environment and to assist them in complying with our
5 corporate environmental policy.
6 Q. Can I ask then this question: I will preface it with a
reminder of some of the things we learned yesterday. We
7 noticed when Mr. Kouchoukos was giving evidence that the
whole of North America, the whole of Latin America, in
8 other words, the whole American Continent, as far as
McDonald's are concerned, now uses paper for its wraps?
9 A. Correct.
10 Q. I think Venezuela was the last to go from polystyrene foam
to paper?
11 A. That is my recollection also.
12 Q. Whereas, we also noticed that in Europe and the Far East,
to a large extent, polystyrene clam shells are still used?
13 A. It is a mixture.
14 Q. Or a mixture, yes. Let me ask you this: What sort of
influence, if you thought it right to do so, could you
15 bring to bear in those countries to change the kind of
packaging which they use?
16 A. There are two ways that I could address something
within the McDonald's system. One, is directly, which we
17 do, and we would present all the information, all the
technology, all the science related to a particular
18 programme that we were initiating and share it with the
country management and be an advocate for change, if I so
19 thought that would be the case. Ultimately, it is the
country manager's decision to confirm with environmental
20 policy, however.
21 The other method is I report to a top management person
within the McDonald's system, and I can go to top
22 management. If I felt there was an issue within the
McDonald's system that wanted top management action,
23 I would see my direct report who is in top management and
give him counsel, advice and recommendations.
24
Q. Let me take a hypothetical example, if I may, Mr. Langert,
25 and ask you what would happen if this were found to be the
case: Suppose it were found that in some country of the
26 world the local McDonald's franchisee was using
polystyrene foam packaging blown with CFCs; suppose you
27 discovered that, what could you do about it?
A. If I discovered that this afternoon, I would take
28 immediate action and I would call top management. I would
call my superior and insist that something be done
29 immediately.
30 Q. Would your expectation be that something would be done?
A. Absolutely.
