CANTON, Mass., Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunkin' Brands
Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN), the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts
and Baskin-Robbins, announced today a commitment to source only
100% sustainable palm oil in the United
States by 2016. Dunkin' Brands will work with its suppliers
and its franchisee-owned purchasing cooperative to source palm oil
that is 100% fully traceable to the mill by the end of 2015, and to
the plantation by the end of 2016 for use in Dunkin' Donuts U.S.
restaurants.
In addition, Dunkin' Brands will develop and publish a phased
implementation plan, including mapping its international supply
chain, by March 1, 2015. Dunkin'
Brands engaged with several nonprofit organizations to develop its
responsible palm oil supply plan, which includes formal guidelines
for palm oil suppliers. The company will continue to work with
these organizations to help meet the targets.
Dunkin' Donuts currently uses a blend of palm oil, soy and
cottonseed oil for preparing donuts, and has supported a moratorium
on palm oil expansion in rainforests and peatlands since 2012.
According to Christine Riley Miller,
Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Dunkin'
Brands, "Sourcing even limited amounts of palm oil irresponsibly
can contribute to deforestation, loss of natural habitats and other
environmental and human rights concerns. 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."
As part of Dunkin' Brands' policies and standards, suppliers
will be held accountable to several principles in the company's
commitment to source responsible palm oil. These include 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. Dunkin' Brands will evaluate suppliers' palm oil
policies to ensure they are aligned with the company's timeline and
principles, and require that suppliers who are in serious violation
of its policy take immediate action to correct any violations.
By March 1, 2015, Dunkin' Brands
will develop and publish a phased implementation plan for sourcing
100% responsible palm oil. The plan will include steps towards
broadening Dunkin' Brands' palm oil initiatives by requiring that
100% of the palm oil sourced for use in the company's international
business is responsibly produced. Additionally, Dunkin' Donuts will
continue to share its progress annually.
To download or read Dunkin' Brands' current corporate
social responsibility report, Focused on Sustainable
Solutions, or to learn more about Dunkin' Brands' CSR
initiatives, please
visit http://news.dunkinbrands.com/content/default.aspx?NewsAreaId=26&__EventTarget=PageIndex&__EVENTARGUMENT=6.
About Dunkin' Brands
With more than 18,000 points of distribution in nearly 60
countries worldwide, Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) is
one of the world's leading franchisors of quick service restaurants
(QSR) serving hot and cold coffee and baked goods, as well as
hard-serve ice cream. At the end of fiscal 2013, Dunkin' Brands'
nearly 100 percent franchised business model included nearly 11,000
Dunkin' Donuts restaurants and 7,300 Baskin-Robbins
restaurants. Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. is headquartered in
Canton, Mass.
Contact:
Michelle King
Dunkin' Brands
781-737-3585
Michelle.King@dunkinbrands.com
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110317/NY67297LOGO
SOURCE Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc.