CANTON, MASS. – Dunkin’ Donuts has introduced DD Green, a building certification program designed to help franchisees build sustainable, energy-efficient restaurants. The chain plans to work with franchisees and construction managers to build 100 new restaurants certified as DD Green by the end of 2016.

Franchisees, construction managers and architects will follow a five-stage program during the planning, design and construction phases of store development. The five stages are development, store efficiency, healthy indoors, sustainable operations, and innovation and community. Strategies include mitigation of construction pollution and waste recycling as well as installing LED light fixtures, energy-efficient mechanical units and water-saving plumbing fixtures.

Franchisees may achieve two different levels. Meeting minimum sustainable requirements earns a DD Green level. Stores achieving additional suggested sustainable goals earn a DD Green Elite level.

“We are delighted to be able to launch the DD Green initiative, a green building certification program that is customized for our various store formats and designed to enable us to meet our long-term environmental targets," said Paul Twohig, president of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. and Canada, and Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Europe and Latin America. "We are committed to building greener restaurants, and this new program is designed to reduce our overall environmental footprint and improve operating costs for our franchisees."

UL Environment, a business division of global independent safety science company UL, reviewed the DD Green achievement program.