Will this sustainable beef initiative change the way you view McDonald's?

According to the Huffington Post, McDonald's pledged Tuesday to officially buy only sustainable beef for its burgers beginning in 2016. The change reportedly comes at a time where more individuals are becoming interested in where their food originates from and how animals for consumption are breed.

"We want to do our part to improve environmental practices in the way beef is produced, support positive workplaces in the beef industry, and drive continuous improvement in animal health and welfare," the McDonald's website reads. "Plus, we envision doing all of this while providing affordability and quality, along with economic viability for those who raise cattle and produce beef." 

Becca Hary, a director of global media relations at McDonald's, said it's too early to predict if or how the new moves will impact the beef prices. Burgers continue to be the main draw at McDonald chains, pulling in more than $1 billion in annual sales each, GreenBiz.com notes.

"Some areas of the world are more advanced when it comes to traceability capabilities, and it is likely that our first purchases will come from one of those areas," Hary wrote in an email. "We will focus on increasing the annual amount each year, but it is too early to predict the quantity that will be purchased in 2016."

According to a McDonald's post on the topic, the transition will be a big challenge because there has not been a "universal definition of sustainable beef."

The fast-food giant is collaborating with outside organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund and Cargill, to draft principles and best practices for sustainable beef.

"We want to do our part to improve environmental practices in the way beef is produced, support positive workplaces in the beef industry, and drive continuous improvement in animal health and welfare," Hary wrote. "Beef represents our largest raw material purchase annually, and beef is our top priority."