Fast Food for the Eco-Friendly: Are “Green” Locations Enough?

photo via Flickr user Olgierd Pstrykotwórca

Fast food and eco-friendliness don’t easily co-exist. There’s too much packaging; the products usually aren’t grown or raised sustainably; and some chains still use Styrofoam. But a few companies are making efforts to get LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, which would mean that the restaurant location upholds high standards for energy savings, water conservation, reducing emissions, and other environmentally responsible practices.

While Starbucks leads the fast food pack with nine LEED-certified locations, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Arby’s each have one LEED location, and — gasp — McDonald’s has two locations certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Do you think fast food chains are making enough of an environmental effort by having a few token LEED-certified locations? Or will greasy fast food always be inherently unfriendly to Mother Nature?

via Food and Drink Digital