US-based coffee and baked goods supplier Dunkin’ Donuts, part of the Dunkin' Brands Group (Canton, Massachusetts; www.dunkinbrands.com), has announced plans to replace PS foam cups with double-walled paper cups across its global supply chain from 2020. The company already uses double-walled paper cups in the majority of its international markets, but not in the US, where it will start phasing in the new cups in restaurants in New York City and California in spring 2018. Paper cups will then be rolled out across the US as supplier manufacturing capabilities ramp up. Dunkin’ Donuts will also work with franchisees in the remaining international markets to eliminate foam cups by the 2020 goal.

Karen Raskopf, chief communications and sustainability officer for Dunkin’ Brands said, “Transitioning away from foam has been a critical goal for Dunkin’ Donuts US, 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.”

Dunkin’ Donuts will use the paper cups, which are made with paperboard certified to Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI, Washington, D.C. / USA and Ottawa, Ontario / Canada; www.sfiprogram.org) standards, for all its hot beverages. “With heat retention properties equal to the company’s foam cup, the new double-walled paper cup will keep beverages hot while keeping hands cool, without the need for a sleeve,” it stated.

The company said it expects the transition to paper cups to remove nearly 1bn EPS cups from the waste stream annually. It plans to explore additional opportunities to increase recycled or certified content for other consumer-facing packaging. The move follows a similar one by McDonald's to phase out its use of PS foam containers by the end of 2018 – see Plasteurope.com of 16.01.2018.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC, Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) responded by saying that plastics makers are working hard to grow access to foam recycling. “The fact is: PS foam can be – and is being – recycled in many communities, more so than many alternatives. Plus, PS foam performs remarkably well at keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold,” it said in a statement.

Dunkin’ Donuts said the move to paper cups complements its plans in the US to have 80% of fibre-based consumer packaging certified to SFI standards by the end of 2018. The company also intends to eliminate artificial dyes from its menu, build new, more energy-efficient restaurants, and partner with the Rainforest Alliance (New York City / USA and Amsterdam / The Netherlands; www.rainforest-alliance.org) to source certified coffee.