Dunkin' Brands Group Inc., the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, will offer an in-store recycling option for its expanded polystyrene foam beverage cups while it looks for a viable foam alternative.
Dunkin' Donuts launched pilot foam cup recycling programs in five of its stores in February, and plans to expand the program to all of its company-operated stores later this year, according to its corporate social responsibility report, "Focused on Sustainable Solutions."
The coffeehouse chain said it is looking for alternative packaging material, and hopes to replace foam cups within a few years, but "there is currently no single-use hot beverage cup on the market that meets the brand's criteria for performance, cost and recyclability."
The company is currently testing a double-walled paper cup in stores located where there is a ban on expanded PS foam.