Powering a greener future together: Meralco partners with McDonald’s on sustainability efforts

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco, the largest power distributor equipped with expertise in green initiatives, joined forces with McDonald’s to power the implementation of eco-friendly practices within its restaurant operations.

This collaboration between One Meralco and Golden Arches Development Corporation (GADC), the company behind McDonald’s, began in January 2021. The fast-food giant aimed to integrate custom solutions into its operations, including solar rooftop installations, solar lamp posts and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

“Together with Meralco, we’re planting the seeds for a Greener future for the Good of the planet,” Kenneth Yang, president and CEO of McDonald’s Philippines, said.

In a significant stride toward sustainability, select McDonald’s branches including Green and Good flagship stores now offer EV users the facility to charge their e-bikes and e-scooters at minimal fees through coin-operated charging stations.

This initiative, enabled by Meralco’s electric mobility solutions subsidiary, Movem Electric Inc., aligns with the government’s push to promote EV use and expedite the country’s transition toward green mobility.

The partnership evolved as GADC leveraged Meralco’s Peak/Off-peak (POP) solution, optimizing electricity usage to take advantage of lower rates during off-peak hours. This measure proved instrumental in helping McDonald’s save on electricity costs for its 24/7 branches, vital for fulfilling their all-day McDelivery services.

Furthering their commitment, solar panel installations are underway at McDonald’s Petron KM44 and McDonald’s Pagsanjan branches. Once fully operational with the support of Meralco’s subsidiary, MSpectrum Inc., these branches are estimated to yield annual savings of approximately P450,000 and P880,000, respectively.

In a bid to advance GADC’s goals toward sustainability, Meralco integrated its solutions by combining solar installations and POP with energy-efficient technologies such as inverter appliances and LED lighting, fostering overall operational efficiency.

“Meralco is always top of mind when it comes to energy solutions. Our relationship with the Meralco group has been long standing and I