KFC Canada Announces Alliance in Global Pledge to Eliminate Non-Recoverable or Non-Reusable Plastic-Based Packaging by 2025

New commitment reinforces KFC's strategy to implement more sustainable options for consumer-facing packaging

VAUGHAN, ON, Jan. 24, 2019 /CNW/ - KFC Canada, alongside its global KFC counterparts, today announced a new global sustainability commitment that all plastic-based, consumer-facing packaging will be recoverable or reusable by 2025. The goal supports KFC's long-term plan to implement a more sustainable packaging strategy in its restaurants – both by developing and using sustainable packaging options – and builds on progress made in some markets to eliminate plastics completely.

"As a global brand that operates more than 22,000 restaurants in over 135 countries, KFC is in a position to have a real impact on how the industry approaches waste and packaging management overall," said Tony Lowings, Chief Executive Officer of KFC. "With environmental sustainability as a core aspect of how we do business, this commitment represents a public acknowledgement of the obligation we have to address these serious issues."

To meet these goals, KFC has developed a roadmap that includes partnering with major suppliers and franchisees globally to identify plastic alternatives in each market. The restaurant chain is working on several key initiatives related to achieving these goals, including conducting an audit of current systems with franchisees to identify plastic waste reduction opportunities; partnering with suppliers to identify sustainable packaging alternatives for items like straws, plastic bags, cutlery and lids; and setting market-specific goals to reduce, reuse and recycle.

In addition to KFC's new plastics goal and the existing commitment by its parent company – Yum! Brands, Inc. – to source 100% of fiber-based packaging from certified or recycled sources by 2020, KFC has committed to global packaging innovation by signing on as a supporting partner with NextGen Consortium. NextGen is a multi-year, multi-industry global consortium that aims to advance the design, commercialization, and recovery of food packaging alternatives. Through this partnership, KFC hopes to identify fiber packaging solutions that are recoverable across global infrastructures.

"KFC Canada is proud to participate in this global sustainability journey and is committed to achieving 100% recoverable or reusable packaging in all our Canadian restaurant locations by 2025" said Nivera Wallani, President and General Manager, KFC Canada. "We also remain dedicated to identifying solutions that further reduce our environmental impact and look forward to implementing these changes in our stores alongside our team members, franchisees, and customers."

KFC Canada sources real, Canadian farm-raised chicken, free of steroids or added hormones, and raised without antibiotics important to human medicine (as defined by the World Health Organization). Additionally, food dyes and artificial flavours have been removed from all KFC Canada's Core menu items, with the exception of beverages and third-party products.

KFC Canada is dedicated to providing finger lickin' good chicken in every bucket, boxed meal and sandwich, while integrating sustainability across all facets of the business. For more information about KFC's sustainability efforts, please visit here.

ABOUT KFC
KFC, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM.), is a global chicken restaurant brand with a rich, decades-long history of success and innovation. It all started with one cook, Colonel Harland Sanders, who created a finger lickin' good recipe more than 75 years ago, a list of secret herbs and spices scratched out on the back of the door to his kitchen. Today we still follow his formula for success, with real cooks breading and freshly preparing our delicious chicken by hand in more than 22,000 restaurants in over 135 countries and territories around the world.

SOURCE KFC Canada

Media Contact: Jackie Warren, Edelman, [email protected], 416-850-0383