Dunkin' Donuts, CBLS, and Sustainability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee that’s closer to campus is good, right? Not everyone who’s a student at the University of Rhode Island drinks coffee, but a fair amount do, and the one’s who do typically enjoy the coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts. In just a few months, Dunkin’ has grown closer and closer to URI’s academic buildings. It began with the opening of a store in the Memorial Union, and now the introduction of a new station in the lower lobby of the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences (CBLS), that only serves donuts, bagels, and self-serve coffee.

 

But Katharine Egan, the URI student senate representative for the College of Environment and Life Sciences (CELS), takes issue with the message the new Dunkin’ is sending. All three Dunkin Donuts use styrofoam cups, plastic cups and straws, and paper bags, all of which are not biodegradable. According to Egan, the use of these materials doesn’t “align with the goals and the mission of CELS and with the greenness that comes along with CBLS.”

 

I then spoke to Dr. John Kirby, the dean of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, who, despite his claim to neutrality, expressed benefits and concerns about the new coffee store. One of these concerns was the use of styrofoam, as he noted the contradiction of the use of these materials in such as sustainable building. But Kirby also pointed out that Dunkin’ does “good business”, and that it wouldn’t make sense for them to step away from a model that they’re succeeding with.

 

Throughout the interview, Kirby neglected to share his feelings regarding the Dunkin’ Donuts, apart from the initial concern about styrofoam. The way Kirby sees it, is that the success of these establishments are market-driven, so they’re going to go with what makes the most money. But despite the success, Kirby laments that it “doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be a conversation,” regarding the use of non-biodegradable materials.