Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Dunkin' score?

Inspire Brands tracked Scope 1 and 2 emissions for five years with 2024 validation via limited assurance. However, no tonnage figures are publicly disclosed for Dunkin' or the parent company. For 13,000+ restaurants globally, this absence of public data represents a significant accountability gap.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Dunkin' score?

Neither Dunkin' nor Inspire Brands has disclosed any Scope 3 emissions. The supply chain spans coffee sourcing across Central/South America, food ingredients, packaging, distribution, and 13,000+ franchised locations. No formal Scope 3 quantification exists. DitchCarbon confirms absence of publicly available emissions data or reduction targets.

Emissions Trajectory: How does Dunkin' score?

Inspire Brands claims 10% emissions reduction 2019–2021 and 22% energy reduction at Arby's since 2011. No absolute emissions figures published to verify these claims. System grew 700+ restaurants in 2025. Without disclosed baseline data, trajectory cannot be verified; total system emissions likely rising despite potential per-restaurant intensity improvements.

Energy Source: How does Dunkin' score?

Inspire Brands is 'exploring renewable energy as a potential long-term strategy.' Three SONIC solar pilots exist. Brand standards mandate 100% LED lighting; DD Green Achievement restaurants use 25–33% less energy than standard. No renewable percentage disclosed, no RE100 membership, no PPAs. For 33,000+ restaurants, transition remains nascent.

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Dunkin' score?

Dunkin' holds RSPO membership (82% palm oil certified), sources Rainforest Alliance espresso and dark roast, commits to 100% responsibly sourced coffee by 2025 via Enveritas, and donated $450,000 to One Tree Planted (450,000 trees in 2021). No TNFD disclosure, no formal biodiversity policy, and no quantified nature footprint. Deforestation risks partially addressed only.

Resource Use & Waste: How does Dunkin' score?

Completed global transition from polystyrene foam to paper cups by May 2020, eliminating ~1 billion foam cups annually. Paper cups SFI-certified; recyclable #5 lids tested. Some packaging contains recycled (30%), compostable (35%), or biodegradable (30%) content. 2024: 29.3M pounds used cooking oil converted to renewable diesel from 1,210 restaurants. Single-use model dominates; no circular economy targets published.

Water Impact: How does Dunkin' score?

DD Green Achievement restaurants feature low-flow faucets and water-saving fixtures; Baskin-Robbins tested efficient ice cream scooper washers. No water consumption data published for Dunkin' or Inspire Brands. For a coffee-focused chain with 13,000+ locations and water-intensive agricultural supply chains, no footprint assessment, reduction targets, or watershed engagement exist.

Targets & Commitments: How does Dunkin' score?

Neither Dunkin' nor Inspire Brands has SBTi commitment or validated emissions targets. No quantified GHG reduction goals with baselines or timelines disclosed. Stated goals include 100% responsibly sourced coffee by 2025, 30% energy per sq ft reduction in corporate facilities by 2025, and 100% reusable/recyclable/compostable packaging by 2025—but these are not emissions targets. No net-zero commitment.

Transparency & Accountability: How does Dunkin' score?

Inspire Brands publishes an Impact website with qualitative information but omits key metrics: emissions tonnage, water consumption, waste volumes. As a private company (Roark Capital-owned), it faces no regulatory disclosure mandates. 2024 emissions validated via limited assurance but results unpublished. No TCFD, CSRD, or CDP response found. Governance structure undisclosed.

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Dunkin' score?

Dunkin' faced sustained criticism for polystyrene foam cups (2010–2020), including Change.org petitions. Transition completed 2020, resolving this issue. Criticism of single-use plastic stoppers (2021 onward) persists. Greenwashing allegations center on gap between sustainability claims and actual data disclosure. No climate lawsuits, regulatory fines, or climate policy lobbying found. 2016 labor overtime lawsuit resolved.

Dunkin' Sustainability Score: 25/100

Recently scored: Next plc, Target Corporation, Rapanui Clothing, SHEIN

515 companies scored·27 score updates this week

Dunkin'·Food Service / Restaurants·Canton, United States·Founded 1950·Last verified 31 May 2026

out of 100

Significant gapsPending Review

Dunkin' discloses almost no quantitative sustainability data despite operating 13,000+ restaurants globally. Emissions figures remain unpublished, supply chain carbon is entirely unquantified, and no science-based targets exist. The company resolved its foam cup controversy in 2020 but continues to rely on single-use packaging and greenwashing claims unsupported by measurable action.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Food Service / Restaurants sector ceiling.

45 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

24 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 45) + (0.7 × 24) = 30.3

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.82

Final score

Rounded. Significant gaps.

25 / 100

The ten questions

Where Dunkin' is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (6/10, 3/10). Weakest on Targets & Commitments and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (1/10, 1/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Self-reported

Inspire Brands Impact — Environment

Ongoing

Q1Q2Q3Q4Q6Q7Q8Q9

View →

[2]Third-party verified

DitchCarbon — Inspire Brands Inc

Ongoing

Q1Q2Q8

View →

[3]Self-reported

Inspire Brands Impact — Sustainable Restaurants

Ongoing

Q3Q4Q7

View →

[4]Self-reported

Inspire Brands Impact — Homepage

Ongoing

View →

[5]Self-reported

Inspire Brands Impact — Sustainable Food

Ongoing

View →

[6]Public record

Beverage Daily — Dunkin' Ramps Up Sustainability Commitment

2019

View →

[7]Self-reported

Dunkin' Sustainability Fact Sheet

2020

View →

[8]Public record

Breakfast Hustle — Environmental Impact of Dunkin's Foam-to-Paper Transition

Unknown

View →

[9]Public record

Litter Awareness — Dear Dunkin' Donuts

Unknown

Q10

View →

[10]Third-party verified

Harvard D3 — A Hot Serving of Empty Promises: Dunkin' Brands, the Enduring Foam Cups, and Sustainable Coffee

Unknown

Q10

View →

[11]Self-reported

Inspire Brands Impact — Reporting

Ongoing

View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Dunkin' in context

Where Dunkin' sits among food service / restaurants peers.

Among the 46 major food service / restaurants brands we've scored, Dunkin' is tied =40th of 46, with 1 other.

=40/46

Dunkin''s rank

Industry average

Industry low

Industry high

8Beefeater (Whitbread PLC)

9Wagamama

10Greggs

11Chipotle Mexican Grill

12Toby Carvery

12Domino's Pizza, Inc.

14Pret A Manger

14Costa Coffee

16Nando's

17The Wendy's Company

18Tortilla Mexican Grill

33Gourmet Burger Kitchen

33Itsu

40Dunkin'

42Papa John's International

42Burger King

44Chick-fil-A

45Subway

46Five Guys Enterprises

How this score has moved

Dunkin''s score over time.

Score history begins 5 April 2026.

As Dunkin''s score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Dunkin'

Dunkin' is a US-based quick-service restaurant chain founded in 1950, headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts. Owned by Inspire Brands since 2021, it operates over 13,000 locations across 40+ countries, primarily serving coffee, donuts, and breakfast items. A major player in the global QSR sector.

Founded

1950

Headquarters

Canton, United States

Employees

~254,000

Annual revenue

~$1.4B (corporate); ~$15B systemwide

Company website ↗

Check the competitors