Dunkin' Donuts Phasing Out Foam Coffee Cups by 2020

By Cara Lombardo 

Dunkin' Donuts will start phasing out its white foam coffee cups beginning this spring and eliminate them by 2020, the restaurant chain said on Wednesday, years after announcing plans to find a more environmentally friendly option.

Dunkin' Donuts, part of Dunkin' Brands Group Inc., started looking for a replacement to the foam cup in 2011. The company said it "worked extensively" in the ensuing years to find an alternative that was both cost-effective and functional.

The new cups are double-walled paper cups that retain heat and are thick enough to use without a sleeve, Dunkin' said.

Consumers increasingly expect the businesses they frequent to reduce their environmental footprints and fast-food chains produce some of the most conspicuous waste. McDonald's Corp. last month said it would stop using foam cups by the end of the year.

While most foam cups are actually made of recyclable plastic, environmental advocates prefer paper cups because plastic foam is difficult to recycle and many places don't process it. However, cups made from paper also can present problems because many recycling plants don't accept them either.

Dunkin' said its change will prevent nearly 1 billion foam cups from being thrown away.

Not only does the Canton, Mass.-based chain use its polystyrene foam cups for hot drinks, but it has come under fire for sometimes serving iced drinks in plastic cups wrapped in an extra foam cup to catch condensation.

Dunkin' said the majority of its international markets already use paper cups, as does a concept store recently opened in Quincy, Mass. Stores in New York City and California will be among the first to get paper cups this spring, the company said.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 07, 2018 11:43 ET (16:43 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.