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Dunkin' Donuts move means 1 billion fewer foam cups in U.S. annual waste

February 7, 2018

The ubiquitous Dunkin' Donuts chain has pledged to go completely polystyrene foam cup-free by 2020, which could make a real dent in the continued prevalence of the troublesome environmental product. The chain announced in a news release it will replace the foam cups with double-walled paper cups, as is already the case with most international locations of the brand. 

The move complements Dunkin' Donuts' earlier commitments in the U.S. to have 80 percent of fiber-based consumer-facing packaging certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard by the end of 2018, as well as ridding its menu of artificial dyes, building new locations to be energy efficient and partnering with the Rainforest Alliance to source certified coffee. 

The brand's next-gen concept store in Quincy, Massachusetts already uses the paper cup since its opening in mid-January, while all New York City and California state restaurants will get the cups this spring. They will then be phased in across the U.S. as the chain's supplier can increase its production of the cups. 

The double-walled paper cup is made with paperboard certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard and will feature the current re-closable lid. Likewise, these cups will also come in the four current sizes and it will be used for all hot beverages. The brand said the cup's heat retention properties are the same and they also keep the beverage hot without burning customers' hands or needing a sleeve. 

"With more than 9,000 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the U.S. alone, our decision to eliminate foam cups is significant for both our brand and our industry," Dunkin' Brands Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer Karen Raskopf said in the release. "We have a responsibility to improve our packaging, making it better for the planet while still meeting the needs of our guests. Transitioning away from foam has been a critical goal for Dunkin' Donuts U.S., and with the double-walled cup, we will be able to offer a replacement that meets the needs and expectations of both our customers and the communities we serve."

In 2011, Dunkin' Donuts announced its number one sustainability goal was to find an environmentally friendlier coffee cup. Over the past several years, the brand has worked extensively to find a suitable replacement for the foam cup that met criteria for performance, environmental impact and cost. Dunkin' Donuts' transition to paper cups will remove nearly 1 billion foam cups from the waste stream annually. 
 

Photo: iStock