“America Runs on Dunkin” (Dunkin Donuts), a slogan most Americans know and hear everyday, especially us college students. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fast, affordable, and keeps you running all through the night completing assignments we’ve procrastinated all week. That being said, have you ever stopped to think about how one of the biggest coffee distributors of America is also a huge contender in our pollution?
“One point seven billion cups of both iced and hot coffee every year” (Howe). This is the amount of waste contributed by America’s beloved company annually. Even worse than that is the fact that Dunkin Donuts still uses Styrofoam cups for their hot drinks, which has many detrimental side effects not only on the environment, but on the consumer as well. What many may not know about Styrofoam is that the toxic chemical styrene, which is classified as a carcinogen to humans, is what is used in the creation of Styrofoam. “A substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue”(U.S. National Library of Medicine), is what styrene is defined as. When hot materials, such as your Dunkin Donuts coffee, is put into these Styrofoam cups, the chemicals that make up the Styrofoam, one being styrene, are often released into the drink which you are then consuming. I don’t know about you, but I personally think that there are enough causes of cancer, and other sickness in society. The fact that this is one that can be prevented by simply eliminating the use of Styrofoam, is worth the investment. American’s won’t be “running on Dunkin” if they’re paying medical bills to fight for their life.
Lastly, what many Americans neglect to educate themselves about, or even care about is the extremely harmful effects pollution due to plastic and Styrofoam waste has on wildlife and the world’s oceans. Not only do these materials always find their way to these water sources, wildlife often mistake these items for food, and often get caught up in the mess we as humans leave behind. People can go on and on about how much of an animal lover and environmentalists they are without even diving into these rising problems. We need to take a step back, and ask ourselves if the convenience of not only Dunkin Donuts but other businesses worldwide, is worth it.
So, what can those do who see this life changing problem of value? Well, instead of taking the easy route of getting your hot fall and winter drinks in Dunkin Donuts Styrofoam, or plastic cup, think about the wider consequences of this action. We often neglect to think of the affects of what we are consuming, and tend to care when it is too late. So, put some research to not only where your food is originating from, but where these products end up, and the make up of these products, which in this case can even be cancerous. The next time you want to “Run On Dunkin”, simply bringing your own reusable cup for them to fill is just one step in the right direction of a better world for everyone. Just a few small changes can mean a huge change for the consumer, wildlife, and the well being of this Earth for generations to come.
Spoon University, Connor Howe. “7 Things You Never Knew about Dunkin’ Donuts, According to an Employee.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 11 Dec. 2017, www.businessinsider.com/7-things-you-never-knew-about-dunkin-donuts-according-to-an-employee-2017-12.
“Styrene: Your Environment, Your Health | National Library of Medicine.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/chemicals-and-contaminants/styrene.