Dunkin Donuts Opens LEED Store

An open letter to Dunkin Donuts -

Congratulations on opening your first LEED certified store.  I hope you don’t mind that I duotoned your logo to make it green. It just seemed fitting as you opened your first “green” store.  I hope it is the first  of many LEED stores to come and you’re not just teasing me.  I really hope you’re not just waiving the eco-flag.  Don’t lett all of your  Twittering and posting pictures  just be a big eco-tease. 

As you know – me and you – we go way back.  It’s a love story, really.  I think it’s time that I let my readers know my love for you, but in the process, I’m going to have to air some of our dirty laundry.  Sometimes I feel like I sacrifice my conscience to be with you, yet you don’t reciprocate.  Sure, you take my money – but you don’t listen.  It’s like trying to cuddle and talk with a prostitute.  I know you just want my money.  I feel like after all this time, you need to start giving back.  I don’t ask for much – I’m a pretty missionary kinda guy with you – nothing kinky – so sure, sometimes I want hazelnut instead of plain.  I have to spice it up from time-to-time, but I’m not asking too much of you.  Just give me what you’re giving your customers in St Petersburg, FL. 

I understand that you own a lot of real estate and also franchise a lot of stores, but really – can’t you change over your cups for all of your stores?  Why do you still need to attack the environment by only giving out #6 styrofoam cups?  There is nothing environmentally friendly about that and who knows what chemicals are offgassing into my coffee.  It’s even difficult to recycle the cups you give out for iced coffee.  Most municipalities only take #1 and #2 plastics.  Give me a better option – please!

Let’s talk more about your LEED intiatives.  The restaurant is built with energy efficient materials to help reduce heating and air conditioning costs by up to 40%. In a climate like Florida – this is a huge cost savings.  I also love that you’re composting your grounds with the worms.  I vermicompost in my basement.  The kids love it and we get very rich soil in return.  I love that one of your initiatives is that in-store diners get trays – such a novel concept.  When I go to my Dunkin and eat in there, we always get bags and boxes and I try to have them not give them to me – but often fail or get dumbfounded looks.  This can save approximately 50,000 bags per year in an average restaurant.

Overall – congratulations to Dunkin Donuts for taking their first green steps.  Like most Americans, I want more, more, more – and not more consumption, but more steps.  I want to alleviate my guiltiest of green pleasures – Dunkin Donuts coffee. 

Okay – one last tidbit of information that you’re leaving out that many of us Eco-Greenies should all know and probably don’t: Dunkin Donuts has sold fair trade coffee since 2003.  Why isn’t that in your press release? 

So, Dunkin, thank you.  Thank you for the good times and the bad times (like when I had to write a complaint letter about the mean counter-worker who yells at people for paying with a $20 bill).  I’ll continue to be your John.  It’s an addiction – like David Duchovny to sex, it’s me to your products.  I don’t smoke, but if I did, I’d leave $2.04 on the dresser in the morning and enjoy a good smoke after having a large cup of your joe (cream, 2 Splenda – sometimes with hazelnut).

Much java love,

Jason

PS – feel free to follow Dunkin Donuts on Twitter and tell them what you think – http://twitter.com/dunkindonuts

(you didn’t think I’d have a post without a video, did you?)