Dunkin’ ditching current lids, styrofoam cups for new style cup and recyclable lid

As part of a sustainable packaging plan, Dunkin’ is ending their relationship with foam cups and their current lids.

In early 2018, Dunkin’ announced plans to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups with a targeted completion date of 2020. To replace the foam cup, Dunkin’ U.S. restaurants will use a new double-walled paper cup made with paperboard certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard.

Dunkin’ announced Friday that as of December 1, all Dunkin’ restaurants in New England will be fully transitioned to the double-walled paper cup. The New England conversion means that nearly 70% of the Dunkin’ system has been switched to the new double-walled paper cups.

According to Dunkin’, the new double-walled paper cup has heat retention properties that are comparable to the foam cup, meaning coffee will stay hot and hands will be cool – eliminating the need for a sleeve.

Dunkin’ has also recently conducted a successful test for a new hot coffee cup lid that is fully recyclable. The new lid is made of #5 polypropylene and can be recycled in cities and towns that offer #5 recycling. Dunkin’ projects that the new lid will be in 100% of locations by the middle of 2020. The new lid reportedly has the same features as the current lid.

Dunkin’ states that both moves will remove approximately 19 million pounds of polystyrene from the waste stream annually.