Dunkin' Brands commits to 100% sustainable palm oil

DUNKIN' DONUTS currently uses palm oil, soy and cottonseed oil for preparing donuts. But this will all change as parent company, Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. commits to sourcing only 100% sustainable palm oil in the United States.

"Sourcing even limited amounts of palm oil irresponsibly can contribute to deforestation, loss of natural habitats and other environmental and human rights concerns,” said Christine Riley Miller, senior director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Dunkin' Brands. “Therefore, Dunkin' Brands has created clear guidelines for our suppliers, and to ensure independent verification that our principles are being met, so that by 2016 we can meet our targets of sourcing only responsibly-produced palm oil," she said. "As part of our overall commitment to being a socially responsible company, Dunkin' Brands is focused on finding sustainable business solutions that meet the needs of our guests and our franchisees, and that benefit our communities and the planet."

The company will work with suppliers and franchisee-owned purchasing cooperative to ensure that 100% palm oil used in making donuts is fully traceable to the mill by the end of 2015, and to the plantation by the end of 2016. Dunkin' Brands will also develop and publish a phased implementation plan, including mapping its international supply chain, by 1 March 2015.

Under the company’s commitment, suppliers will be held accountable for certain principles including:

-No development of High Carbon Stock forests and High Conservation Value areas

-No burning in preparation of land or in development

-Progressive reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on existing plantations from all sources

-No development on peat areas regardless of depth; and

-Respect and no exploitation of people and communities including support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.