McDonald : Global Sustainability Leaders Arrive in Chicago for Greenbuild 2018

You can be a part of one of the most exciting global, sustainability conferences

Next week, from November 14-16, Chicago will serve as the host city for one of the largest and most renowned sustainability conferences, Greenbuild Expo. Greenbuild is presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and dedicated to sustainability, particularly in the built environment. This year's Greenbuild includes an 'Honorary Host Committee' comprised of Chicago-area business leaders who are lending their name to welcome an international audience of sustainability leaders to the event. As part of using our Scale for Good and dedication to sustainability, McDonald's is proud to be a part of the Honorary Host Committee with President & CEO, Steve Easterbrook serving as a Host Committee member.

As kick-off to Greenbuild and as an extension of the host committee, McDonald's co-hosted an event with Illinois Green Alliance at the Chicago-based headquarters with representatives from the host committee companies. The 'Road to Greenbuild: How Chicago-based Leaders in Sustainability are Making a Global Impact, ' panel included the honorary host committee representatives discussing how their companies are advancing sustainability and are leveraging their global footprints and featured Jenny McColloch, Senior Director, Global Sustainability Strategy & Scale for Good.

The conversation during Road to Greenbuild is just a glimpse of what will take place at Greenbuild. Featured speakers include: Carmen Yulin Cruz, Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Amal Clooney, human rights lawyer and speaker. The ideals and passion of the green building and sustainability community come alive at this expo where experts and frontline professionals dedicated to sustainable building in their everyday work come together, and a unique energy is sparked.

This year's theme at Greenbuild is all around 'Human x Nature: The Intersection of Humanity & the Built Environment' which is interwoven into all the Expo's education tracks, tours and events. The theme is conveying that the green building movement embraces all of humanity by making sustainable buildings and environments accessible to everyone, and in doing so, benefits the natural environment all around us.

Accessibility to sustainable building will be available to all Greenbuild attendees with their featured tours. In fact, the McDonald's Flagship Restaurant designed by Ross Barney Architects will be highlighted on a tour about sustainable hospitality and is a shining example of how we are partnering with franchisees to use our Scale for Good. For example, the solar pergola will capture the sun's energy, supplying part of the building's consumption needs. Throughout the site, permeable paving is used to reduce storm water runoff and the heat island effect and the building is seeking LEED certification.

If you are a working towards AIA, LEED, GBCI, APA accreditation or hours, many of the workshops can be credited towards your hours, more information on that HERE. Whether you are an impassioned sustainability consumer, someone interested in learning more or a built environment professional, we hope to see you in just a few days at McCormack Place for this incredible Expo. Be sure to get your tickets in advance of the Expo and don't forget to register for the tour of the McDonald's Flagship Restaurant!