McDonald's Goes Green Down Under

We're not gonna dub them the green arches just yet, but McDonald's has announced plans to serve only Rainforest Alliance certified coffee in all of its Australian restaurants beginning next year. The Rainforest Alliance seal guarantees that coffee is grown on farms where forests, rivers, soils, and wildlife are conserved, while coffee workers have access to education and medical care and are paid a fair wage. McDonald's restaurants in the UK switched to Rainforest Alliance certified coffee in 2007. That's still a long way for American consumers to go for a green cup o' joe--luckily there's a long list of local coffee shops that serve Rainforest Alliance certified coffee. Score even more green points by passing on the disposable cup.

--D.W.

Sources:  Eco-razzi, Thaindian News, Rainforest Alliance, Treehugger