Operating in more than 155 countries and territories, Yum! and its brands are making steady progress on sustainability through everyday actions and strategic partnerships.
“Whether it’s improving packaging, protecting the landscapes where our ingredients are sourced or working with partners around the world, these efforts reflect how we’re building a more resilient business for the future,” said Yum! Chief Sustainability Officer Jon Hixson.
This work to reduce environmental impact and strengthen the people and communities connected to Yum!’s business continues through both incremental improvements and larger-scale collaborations.
At Pizza Hut U.S., a redesigned wing bowl is helping to make recycling easier — and setting a new standard for the industry. The award-winning packaging, recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers, removes materials like carbon black and excess fillers that previously made it non-recyclable. It also incorporates recycled content, helping increase the supply of food-grade recycled plastic available and enabling more packaging to be reused at scale.
“This redesign is about making better choices at every stage of the packaging lifecycle,” said Emily True, director of sustainability at Pizza Hut. “From materials to recyclability, we’re working to reduce waste and support more sustainable systems while still delivering the quality our customers expect.”
In the United States’ Intermountain West region, Taco Bell is continuing its partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to promote healthier grazing lands for cattle.
“We’re all about democratizing access to quality, flavorful meals at an affordable price,” said Missy Schaaphok, Taco Bell senior director of Global Nutrition & Sustainability in a press release. “What people don’t see directly on our menu is how we also prioritize sustainability just as much as craveability.”
Photo credit: NFWF
Through the Rocky Mountain Rangelands Program, new grants are helping rebuild wildlife habitats, improve water management and assist ranchers in adopting more sustainable practices. Projects include restoring hundreds of acres of land, improving grazing across more than 300,000 acres and protecting key migration corridors for wildlife.
And in South America, KFC is working with Conservation International to enable more sustainable production of palm oil and soy, two ingredients used across all of Yum!’s brands global food system. The collaboration focuses on land management in Brazil and Ecuador, helping reduce deforestation and empowering farmers, while also strengthening supply chains that millions of customers rely on every day. Collectively, this work is part of broader, landscape-level initiatives designed to create positive outcomes for both people and nature.
These efforts demonstrate how Yum! continues to build on its long-standing sustainability initiatives. Together with KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill, Yum! is taking practical steps, working with partners and finding new ways to create value for the business and the broader world.
