It is no secret that bees belong to the rapidly disappearing and endangered species . The world fast food chain has made a marketing move in the form of “green help” to honey bees. Critics say the company is trying to attack sentiment and distract from its downsides, such as the huge production of plastic waste.
McDonald’s Sweden branch, in cooperation with JCDecaux, is working on the installation of bee shelters on billboards with the idea that they could help increase the population of bees.
A Bee House vs. a Biologist
Henrik Nerell, Environmental Manager at McDonald’s in Sweden, explained:
“The survival of bees is an important issue for society as a whole. That we can use our signs for a good cause feels great. The initiative, which has sprung from our franchisees’ personal commitment to the issue, has been made possible in collaboration with JC Decaux and we are proud and excited to welcome our flying guests soon as they move into our bee hotels.”
But nothing is black or white. Installation alone is not enough. Without the subsequent care of “bee hotels” the project makes no sense. It can even harm bees.
According to Gizmodo magazine:
“The most prevalent problem with bee houses is that when they’re not cared for properly, they can become breeding grounds for pests, mold, fungus, and disease. As Colin Purrington, an evolutionary biologist and bee house enthusiast who recently had a viral thread on Twitter about deadly bee houses, put it to Earther, it’s like having a hotel with no maid service. ‘If you were staying in a hotel and it never, ever cleaned anything it would be gross,’ he said.”
The truth is that an ordinary customer without the knowledge of the functioning and care of the bee house gets the impression that a fast food company is doing something great for the life of bees.
Critics consider these steps as posers to make them look more ethical in the eyes of the public. According to them, it is just a good-looking propaganda to ensure the sustainability of customer favor.
We Must Educate Ourselves to Help
Bees have already entered into extinction risk. Bees around the world have disappeared up to 90% according to recent studies, the reasons are different depending on the region, but among the main reasons are massive deforestation, lack of safe places for nests, lack of flowers, use uncontrolled pesticides, changes in soil, among others.
Some bee projects, such as edible paper for bees or bus stops with bee habitats, seem more appropriate and without greater risks.
We can see the lesson that it is necessary to know the deafness of a particular project, its advantages and disadvantages, and only then to make a definite opinion. Not every project is as green as it might seem.
Source & credit: https://themindunleashed.com/2019/09/mcdonalds-billboards-bee-hotels.html,https://nowthisnews.com/videos/future/mcdonalds-is-turning-billboards-into-bee-hotels
