Blowing away the foam: Dunkin’ Donuts transitions to paper cups globally

13 May 2020 --- In the midst of navigating COVID-19 hurdles, US-based Dunkin’ Donuts continues on its environmental sustainability path by removing approximately one billion foam cups from the waste stream annually. To achieve this, the company transitioned from polystyrene foam cups to paper cups across all of its restaurants globally, meeting the timetable established by the brand two years ago. The double-walled paper cups will be followed by recyclable hot coffee cup lids in all of the brand’s US restaurants by the end of the summer.

The paper cups are made with paperboard certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) standard and are currently used to serve all hot beverages, including coffee, espresso drinks, tea, and hot chocolate in the US. To meet guests’ expectations and preferences, the cups maintain heat retention properties comparable to the prior foam cups, keeping beverages hot while keeping hands cool, without the need for a sleeve. 

Dunkin’ transitioned from polystyrene foam cups to paper cups across all of its restaurants globally.“Even in challenging times like these, sustainability remains a key priority for Dunkin'. We recognize that making a meaningful difference requires commitment and continuous improvement. We will build on our momentum and do our part to take care of the world around us because it matters to us, our franchisees, our guests and our communities,” says Scott Murphy, President, Dunkin’ Americas.

“In the US, 86 percent of our packaging is made from renewable resources, recyclable, and/or made from certified materials. Increasing the recyclability and reducing our consumption is a top priority. We are committed to finding a long-term sustainable alternative to our single-use plastic packaging,” Danielle Wood, Senior Sustainability Specialist, Dunkin’ Brands, tells PackagingInsights.

Double the eco-friendly approach
While a limited number of Dunkin’ restaurants may still have foam cups in their inventory, the company's distribution centers are no longer offering foam cups, making only the new, double-walled paper cups available to Dunkin’ US franchisees for use in their restaurants.

The company is also on track to fully transition to recyclable hot coffee cup lids in its US restaurants. The new lids are made of #5 polypropylene that can be recycled in cities and towns that offer #5 polypropylene recycling. This transition, along with the move to the double-walled paper cups, will remove a collective 19 million pounds (8.6m kg) of polystyrene from the waste stream annually.

 Dunkin’ Donuts continues on its environmental sustainability path by removing approximately one billion foam cups from the waste stream annually.By the end of 2020, all Dunkin’ Keurig K-Cup pods sold in-store and on shelves at grocery will also be recyclable. Made with #5 polypropylene, customers can recycle the K-Cup pods by peeling and disposing of the lid, composting or disposing of the grounds, then recycling the remaining empty cup.

DD Green Achievement goals
Furthermore, Dunkin’ announced it is committing to doubling the number of DD Green Achievement venues within five years, meaning restaurants will be built with environmentally sustainable and efficient elements. Dunkin’ launched its DD Green Achievement program in 2014 to help its franchisees build more sustainable and energy-efficient restaurants. In 2016, the brand announced a goal of opening 500 DD Green Achievement restaurants by the end of 2020. Today, Dunkin’ is announcing that the company has met that milestone early, and is setting a new goal of opening its 1,000th DD Green Achievement restaurant by the end of 2025.

DD Green Achievement restaurants are built with environmental sustainability in mind, including LED lighting, high-efficiency mechanical equipment, low-flow faucets and more sustainable features. DD Green Achievement restaurants, which were designed to save between 15 to 20 percent of energy use as compared to traditional Dunkin' restaurants, have proven to save approximately 33 percent of energy use, on average, when compared to conventional Dunkin’ locations, outperforming design anticipations.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, most Dunkin’ stores across the country remain open and have put enhanced preventative health and safety measures in place. In an ongoing effort to help keep its guests and restaurant employees safe, Dunkin’ is currently limiting service to drive-thru, carry-out, delivery and curbside pick-up at select locations. Guests can order and pay contactless on the Dunkin' App for a quick, grab-and-go experience.

By Kristiana Lalou