Promoting reusability is an important part of Starbucks goal to reduce waste sent to landfill by 50% by 2030. Building on our learnings from programs in the U.S. and South Korea, Starbucks is expanding its reusable to-go cup program to 10 stores in the Marunouchi area of central Tokyo, Japan, beginning November 22.

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The program provides customers the option to receive their beverage in a reusable stainless steel cup and return it at a participating store to be professionally sanitized and reused. The service will be free to customers through the initial trial period, and makes choosing reusables as convenient as customers expect from Starbucks. 

Around the world, Starbucks continues to test solutions for scale to help the company realize its Planet Positive goal, while inviting customers to create a positive impact for the planet by making reusable cups a more regular part of the Starbucks Experience.

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Starbucks Japan partner displays reusable to-go cup for customer

Starbucks Japan announces reusable to-go cups in Tokyo : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Japan announces reusable to-go cups in Tokyo

Today, Starbucks announces a reusable to-go cup service at select stores in Tokyo.

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As part of <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/starbucks-solidifies-pathway-to-a-planet-positive-future/">Starbucks global goal</a> to reduce waste sent to landfill by 50% by 2030, this April Starbucks Coffee Korea <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-korea-announces-aspirations/">pledged to eliminate disposable cups</a> across the market by 2025. Following a successful transition to reusable cups across <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-eliminates-disposable-cups-at-four-stores-in-jeju-south-korea/">four stores in Jeju</a>, which diverted an estimated 200,000 disposable cups from landfills in the first three months, Starbucks Coffee Korea today announced that an additional 12 stores in the Seoul area will introduce a reusable to-go cup program, eliminating single-use cups at those stores. All handcrafted beverages served at the stores will be provided in dine-in mugs, clean personal cups, or reusable cups. When returned, used to-go cups are professionally cleaned by a third-party before being returned to circulation. Starbucks Coffee Korea expects the Seoul program to divert about 500,000 disposable cups by the end of year.

In December, Starbucks Coffee Korea will add a Venti size to the reusable to-go cup program, and extend coverage to all stores in Jeju. The company plans to use exclusively reusable cups at all stores in Seoul by end of summer next year. Combined, the Seoul and Jeju programs are expected to divert over 100 million disposable cups from landfills annually. &nbsp;

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Starbucks Korea eliminates disposable cups at 12 stores in Seoul : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Korea eliminates disposable cups at 12 stores in Seoul

Starbucks Coffee Korea expands reusable to-go cup program to stores in Seoul.

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-korea-eliminates-disposable-cups-at-12-stores-in-seoul/

Actions become more powerful when we take them together. While efforts to reduce waste are not new to Starbucks, today we are advancing circularity at scale with our partners (employees), customers and through thoughtful partnerships.

Asia is home to 60% of the world’s population and several fast-growing economies. By shifting toward a circular economy and finding better ways to manage our waste, we can help communities thrive for years to come. But we cannot do it alone. It takes all of us.

From inviting partners and customers to make reusable cups a regular part of the Starbucks Experience, to exploring innovative ways to reuse coffee grounds from our stores, Starbucks is brewing a culture of reuse across Asia.

Sharing the journey towards increased re-use

Starbucks has offered the option for customers to enjoy their beverage in For Here Ware or to Bring-Your-Own-Cup (BYOC) for a discount since the 1980s, and we serve beverages in For Here Ware across our stores in the Asia Pacific region.

As part of our ongoing commitment to reducing the waste sent to landfill by 50% by 2030, we continue to explore new ways to decrease single-use cup waste through reuse. With many customers enjoying their favorite Starbucks beverage on the go, the challenge is how to make it as convenient as possible.

“We continue to explore new ways to inspire and support our customers to make rewarding planet-positive changes, without compromising on the convenience expected from Starbucks. Promoting reusability and reducing single-use cup waste are important factors in shifting towards a circular economy,” said Sara Trilling, president, Starbucks Asia Pacific.

This fall, Starbucks encouraged customers to bring their own cups into stores and gifted a limited-edition reusable cup to all customers who purchased a handcrafted beverage across Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. With one cup replacing up to 30 single-use cups, the company aspires to create a culture of reuse amongst customers, partners and communities, bringing them together around a shared desire to do more for the planet.

The initiative has provided partners with new ways to deepen connections with customers across the region, while inviting them to join us on our resource-positive journey.

“I’m excited to take part in Starbucks efforts to take care of the planet we share,” said Sandy, a partner in Hong Kong. “I know small changes add up to make a big impact, and I really feel like I’m making a difference in the conversations I’m having with customers.”

Earlier this year, Starbucks announced plans to fully discontinue single-use cups in all stores across South Korea by 2025 and launched a reusable cup program in select stores in Jeju, which it plans to expand to additional locations over the next for years. Starbucks also launched a similar program in Tokyo, Japan, as it continues to explore convenient ways to encourage customers to reduce disposable cup usage.

In a first for the company globally, Starbucks® stores across Japan, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean offered promotions to encourage customers to reduce single-use cup waste and adopt long-term sustainable behaviors.

Starbucks Coffee Korea’s reusable program is an example of how the company is partnering with like-minded organizations to drive lasting change in and beyond its industry. Through the program, it joins forces with other organizations in leading the reduction of single-use cup waste, while sharing sustainability best practice and learnings. It also partners with a third-party to clean, sterilize and dry the used cups before they are returned to circulation in stores.

As the program takes off in select stores in Jeju, Starbucks partners believe it will help to preserve the island’s beauty, while driving leadership in sustainability. “Being selected as one of the first stores to participate in this project at Starbucks makes me nervous but it also gives me a sense of mission to make it a successful project. I think the Reusable Cup program shows Starbucks courage to try and find solutions for sustainability,” said Jules, a store manager at one of the participating stores.

Upcycling coffee grounds for good

Coffee grounds are the largest source of food waste for Starbucks, and we continue to explore creative ways to engage our customers in our resource-positive journey – with coffee at the core.

We’ve introduced unique programs across the region to transform used coffee grounds, crafting them into holiday gifts with DIY hacks in Hong Kong, creating specialty merchandise items in Thailand, and incorporating them into our in-store artwork. We also provide customers with used coffee grounds from our stores to use as garden fertilizer through our&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-coffee-grounds-for-the-garden/#:~:text=Starbucks%20started%20its%20Grounds%20for,ship%20espresso%20beans%20to%20stores.">Grounds for Your Garden</a>&nbsp;program in select markets.

“The Third Place experience created by Starbucks partners in our stores is where we build community and connect around a shared desire to do good. Our reusability initiatives across the region connect customers to the entire coffee ecosystem, helping to cultivate a profound appreciation for all things coffee, while inspiring them to take action to build a more sustainable future,” said Sara Trilling, president, Starbucks Asia Pacific.

In the spirit of the Third Place, Starbucks is pioneering circularity strategies that create positive impact for local communities, while also reducing its waste footprint. Starbucks has partnered with local farmers in South Korea in 2015 to donate recycled coffee grounds for agricultural fertilizer to grow produce. Starbucks brings these ingredients back into stores for customers to enjoy across a range of packaged food items including a range of breads, rice chips and dried fruits. A similar program has been running in Japan since 2014, through which Starbucks recently launched a new range of fresh food items to customers.

Across Asia, we continue to engage our customers, partners and communities in our resource-positive journey, galvanizing the power of doing better together.

In Jeju, store manager Jules believes the Borrow A Cup has the potential to inspire collective action across the wider region: “I feel so proud to be involved in the project because it shows how easily we can integrate reusables into our daily lives. By making small changes together, we can protect the planet we share.”

To find out more about our progress against our sustainability goals, read our <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/gesi-report-2020-planet/">2020 Report here</a>.

Reusable cup designs from Starbucks in Japan

Brewing a culture of reuse across communities in Asia : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Brewing a culture of reuse across communities in Asia

Learn how Starbucks is inviting customers along on its journey to become resource-positive company.

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/brewing-a-culture-of-reuse-across-communities-in-asia/

As Starbucks celebrates its 50th Anniversary, the company is expanding its Greener Store Framework to help reduce its environmental impact and leverage its scale for good to accelerate the global movement towards a more sustainable future. Starbucks is opening its first Greener Store outside of North America in Shanghai, China with a focus on circularity. The Shanghai Greener Store has been designed and built to reduce waste, repurpose goods and serve as a platform for future innovation.

Design &amp; Construction - Creating an environmentally-conscious&nbsp;third place:

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Daily Operations – Promoting responsible living through a cup of coffee:

Customer Experience – Making sustainability part of everyday lifestyles:

Design &amp; Construction - Creating an environmentally-conscious third place

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The Shanghai Greener Store uses recycled materials and industry-first responsible materials, achieving a balance between functional use, spatial aesthetics and circularity.

Wood reclaimed from the renovation of the Beijing Sanlitun Taikooli Flagship store were used to craft the countertop of the Experience Bar, steps of the” stadium seating,” as well as door handles, giving material that would have otherwise gone into landfills a new lease of life.

Wood recovered from stores in Shanghai was used to make table tops, while table bases are made from recycled materials combined with recycled red bricks reclaimed from stores.

The Greener Store also features a Modular Bar and Back-Of-House system constructed to enable reuse and recycling. Made of modules for different functions, the modular design allows the store to quickly adjust the bar layout, by adding, removing, or replacing bar modules to achieve different functional combinations such as ordering, beverage production, food display, and more.

The customized setup enhances efficiency while envisioning a future-forward construction that can enable full reuse, avoiding landfill waste. Modules can be easily dismantled and reassembled in different configurations in case of future renovations or remodeling. At the ‘end of life’, modules that meet reuse standards can be refurbished and used again, hence reducing waste. &nbsp;

The store also provides a more convenient environment for Starbucks partners (employees), featuring a back-of-house wall system that connects the bar and storage space. It facilitates front-flow of materials such as ice and cups and the back-flow of waste. This reduces the number of trips partners have to make between the bar and storage area, improving operational efficiency and enabling partners to focus on connections with customers.

In addition, the store utilizes Internet of Things (IoT) and smart technologies. Air conditioners can be switched on and off automatically according to the store’s operating hours, and the lighting can be automatically adjusted to different preset modes for different times of the day. Through these technologies, the store is expected to reduce carbon emissions by around 15 percent, compared to a regular Starbucks store of the same size (2019 baseline scenario).

The art installations in the store are inspired by Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks coffee farm in Costa Rica. Referencing the region’s topographic map as the outline, the designer used colors from the ‘bean cards’ of coffees from Starbucks top 10 coffee producing regions. The colors bring a lighter touch to the rugged mountains and terrain contours, while also highlighting Starbucks appreciation for nature. Artworks are displayed in different areas of the store and are grouped according to the three largest coffee producing regions – Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Daily Operations – Promoting responsible living through a cup of coffee

Advanced plastic-to-textile technologies are used to transform Starbucks PET cups into the iconic Starbucks green apron donned by store partners. The cups undergo deep cleaning and processing to become recycled PET fragments, which are then made into polyester chips, yarns, and fabrics, before becoming a Starbucks apron.

This recycling initiative not only helps to minimize white pollution caused by PET beverage bottles, but also reduces energy and resource consumption compared to the traditional textile industry. Each apron achieves approximately one kilogram of carbon reduction in its lifecycle.

The store will be introducing “Sustainable Coffee Classrooms” hosted by coffee masters selected from across the market. In addition to coffee knowledge and culture, customers can learn about different sustainability practices adopted by Starbucks throughout the entire coffee supply chain.

The store not only showcases the “bean to cup” journey, but also inspires people to rethink the endless possibilities of the coffee lifecycle. The store is the first in the market to recycle its coffee grounds for use as fertilizer. After composting, they can be used in suburban farms and shopping mall gardens. Customers can also take coffee grounds back home for free.

Customer Experience – Making sustainability part of everyday lifestyles

The Shanghai Greener Store is the first Starbucks store globally to host sustainability-themed exhibitions, where artists will be invited to give coffee grounds and other materials a new lease of life. Called the “Circular Lifestyle Lab,” the exhibition features sustainability-themed art installations made from recycled materials.

Kicking off the initiative is a collaboration with Tongji University’s College of Design and Innovation on an exhibition titled, “Organic Prosperity,” featuring art installations created through the imaginative use of coffee grounds and other retail waste materials. Customers can also sign up for related talks and workshops.

Customers are encouraged to bring their own tumblers and cutlery to the store. Those without their own cups or tumblers can still do their part to reduce single-use cups by purchasing a Grande-sized reusable cup for just 15 RMB when ordering beverages for on-the-go consumption. Consistent with other stores in the market, the store will provide coffee grounds straws and cutlery made of biodegradable materials, while encouraging customers to bring their own reusable cup or tumblers for 4 RMB discount.

Customers may also enjoy a scrumptious variety of plant-based food and beverage offerings. Over half of the store menu will be plant-based, including the debut of 15 new food items and two new limited-time offer beverages, while oatmilk will be used as the default option for most beverages. A range of plant-based bakery, wraps, sandwiches, salads, cakes and pastries will be available to satisfy customers’ craving at any time of the day.

From design and construction, to daily store operations and customer experience, the Shanghai Greener Store not only serves as a re-imagined third place, but also demonstrate Starbucks partners’ commitment to a sustainable future. Let us work together towards our shared aspiration.

Inside Starbucks first Greener Store in China : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Inside Starbucks first Greener Store in China

Starbucks is opening its first Greener Store outside of North America in Shanghai, China with a focus on circularity.

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The Shanghai Greener Store located in Qiantan Taikooli is the first Starbucks store certified under the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/starbucks-greener-stores-accelerate-global-movement-towards-a-more-sustainable-future/">Greener Stores Framework</a> to open outside North America. Starbucks has more than 2,300 Greener Stores in the U.S. and Canada and will begin using the framework outside of North America to achieve its goal of building and retrofitting 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025. The Shanghai Greener Store has been designed and built to reduce waste, repurpose goods and serve as a platform for future innovation. Here are 10 ways this store uniquely celebrates Starbucks Planet Positive commitments.

1. Explore the lifecycle of a coffee bean

Upon entering the store, customers will experience and participate in the ‘from bean to cup’ story behind a cup of coffee. An inspiring micro-film brings them on a journey to the coffee origin introducing Starbucks ethical sourcing approach known as Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E) Practices. At the same time, they can enjoy Starbucks Reserve coffees brewed artfully by coffee masters selected from across the market, who will showcase their exquisite craftsmanship while relating the fascinating story behind each coffee.

At the Shanghai Greener Store, over half the menu is plant-based. Unlike other Starbucks stores, oatmilk is used as the default option for most beverages. Starbucks has also introduced two new plant-based beverages, available for a limited time only – Salted Caramel Breve and Salted Caramel Flat White. The store offers a scrumptious variety of plant-based food offerings, including the debut of 15 new food items. A range of plant-based bakery, wraps, sandwiches, salads, cakes and pastries are available to satisfy customers’ craving at any time of the day.

3. Re-use your Starbucks cup time and time again

To encourage customers to do their part for the planet, the store offers a new Grande-sized reusable cup. Customers can purchase it for just 15 RMB when ordering beverages for on-the-go consumption. Made with Polypropylene (PP), the reusable cup design is inspired by the traditional Starbucks Siren logo. Customers can also bring their own cups for 4 RMB discount.

4. Visit the “Circular Lifestyle Lab”

A “Circular Lifestyle Lab” within the store provides a platform to spotlight sustainability-themed artwork. Kicking off the initiative is a collaboration with Tongji University’s College of Design and Innovation on an exhibition titled “Organic Prosperity,” featuring art installations created through the imaginative use of coffee grounds and other retail waste materials. The store will also host talks and workshops to inspire the public on the future possibilities of sustainable development.

The store uses a bar made up of modules designed for different functions such as ordering, beverage production, food display, and more. This modular design allows the store to quickly adjust the bar layout, by adding, removing or replacing bar modules to achieve different functional combinations, should it undergo renovation or remodeling in the future. It is expected that many aspects of the store interior can be recycled, upcycled or biodegraded.

6. Reusing materials from other Starbucks stores

At the Shanghai Greener Store, customers will find traces of other Starbucks stores from across China. The store&nbsp;uses reclaimed wood from the renovations of&nbsp;other&nbsp;Starbucks stores. This includes the countertop of the Experience Bar, steps of the ‘stadium seating’, as well as door handles, which were made from wood recovered the Starbucks Beijing Sanlitun Taikooli Flagship store.

The store uses smart, energy efficient solutions for air conditioning, lighting, water usage and daily energy consumption. For example, the lighting system is entirely automated, and features multiple modes such as daytime, dusk, late night and more with customized settings.

Sustainability has been considered across every aspect of daily operations. Paper receipts have been eliminated with the introduction of e-receipts, and customers can check on the details of their orders on the Starbucks China App. LED menu boards have also replaced paper menus. These measures reduce single-use materials and minimize waste from the very beginning.

There is a special origin behind the aprons at this store – they are made from recycled Starbucks cups. Advanced plastic-to-textile technologies are used to transform Starbucks PET cups into the iconic Starbucks green apron donned by store partners. The cups undergo deep cleaning and processing to become recycled PET fragments, which are then made into polyester chips, yarns, and fabrics, before becoming a Starbucks apron. This recycling initiative not only helps to minimize white pollution caused by PET beverage bottles, but also reduces energy and resource consumption compared to the traditional textile industry. Each apron achieves approximately one kilogram of carbon reduction in its lifecycle.

10. Finding new uses for coffee grounds &nbsp;

In a first for Starbucks in the Chinese mainland, coffee grounds from the store will be recycled. A portion of the coffee grounds will be used as fertilizer in the garden outside the store and in farms located in the suburbs, while the rest will be packaged as free gifts for customers.

Top 10 Things to Know about the Starbucks Shanghai Greener Store : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Top 10 Things to Know about the Starbucks Shanghai Greener Store

Check out the top things to know about Starbucks first Greener Store in China.

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/top-10-things-to-know-about-the-starbucks-shanghai-greener-store/

On September 28, customers in participating markets will receive a 50th anniversary reusable cup when they buy any handcrafted beverage

Starbucks invites customers to shift from single-use to reusable cups as part of its ongoing global commitment to reduce its waste footprint by 50% by 2030

The gift will help make reusable cups a part of the Starbucks Experience for customers and partners around the world

In celebration of 50 years of coffee and connection, Starbucks is gifting a limited-edition reusable cup to customers who purchase any handcrafted beverage on September 28 across select Asia Pacific markets, expanding the offer across the region in the coming months. In support of the company’s goal to reduce waste to landfill by 50% by 2030, Starbucks is encouraging customers around the world to shift away from single-use plastics, championing the use of recycled content, and promoting reusability.

In a first for the company globally, starting from this week, Starbucks® stores across Japan, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean will offer promotions to encourage customers to reduce single-use cup waste and adopt long-term sustainable behaviors.

With many customers across Asia Pacific enjoying their favorite Starbucks® beverage on the go, Starbucks wants to encourage customers to make positive changes, helping reusables become a regular part of the Starbucks Experience.

“As we mark our anniversary milestone, this reusable cup is our gift to customers and our invitation to join Starbucks on our journey to becoming a resource-positive-company,” said Sara Trilling, president, Starbucks Asia Pacific. “This step is only one part of many more to come. Together with our customers, we’re constantly innovating new ways to scale more sustainable solutions across the region.”

Offers and timings may differ market by market.

On September 28 alone, Starbucks expects to reach more than 2 million customers across the Asia Pacific region. With one cup replacing up to 30 single-use cups, the company aspires to create a culture of reuse amongst customers, partners (employees) and communities, bringing them together around a shared desire to do more for the planet. To build excitement ahead of September 28, Starbucks partners across the region have taken part in training and team activities, empowering them to promote sustainability in stores.

For more on how Starbucks is marking 50 years of inspiring and nurturing the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time – visit <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/50">Starbucks Stories</a>.

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A gift that gives back: Starbucks offers free reusable cup, inviting customers on resource-positive journey : Starbucks Stories Asia

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A gift that gives back: Starbucks offers free reusable cup, inviting customers on resource-positive journey

On September 28, customers in participating markets in Asia will receive a 50th anniversary reusable cup when they buy any handcrafted beverage.

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/reusable-cup-day/

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we look ahead with the conviction that we must do more to help the people who make coffee possible, and the planet we share.

Promoting reusability is an important part of Starbucks goal to reduce waste sent to landfill from our stores and manufacturing by 50% by 2030, and we recognize we cannot do it alone. Next week, for the first time on a global scale, Starbucks is thanking our partners, customers and communities around the world for 50 years of connection and inviting them to join us in our journey to becoming a resource-positive company by making the shift to reusable cups.

Customers across select markets in the Asia Pacific and Latin America &amp; Caribbean regions will get a free reusable cup when they buy a handcrafted Starbucks beverage. In Canada, EMEA, Japan and markets including Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Peru, we’ll be giving customers a free coffee or discounted beverage when they bring their reusable cup into stores or purchase one on the day.

“We aspire to give back more than we take from the planet and believe we must help reduce single-use cup waste,” said Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer. “This global invitation to join our efforts will help make reusable cups a more regular part of the Starbucks Experience for our customers and partners around the world. On our 50th anniversary, we want to thank our customers for making positive changes with Starbucks and signal our commitment to the future.”

Here’s how we’re doing it:

Around the world, Starbucks is committed to doing more to help protect the planet we share and take meaningful step toward resource-positive our aspirations—for the next 50 years and beyond.

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Starbucks celebrates International Coffee Day with reusable cup offers around the world : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks celebrates International Coffee Day with reusable cup offers around the world

Around the world, Starbucks is inviting customers to reduce single-use cup waste with special limited-time offers.

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-celebrates-international-coffee-day/

Starbucks today announced a new program to reduce food waste at select Starbucks stores across Japan. To ensure unsold food does not go to waste, participating stores have the option of marking down select bakery products by 20% several hours prior to closing. As part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to fight against hunger, the company will donate part of the revenue of these discounted sales to Musubie, a local non-profit which provides meals for children across Japan.

A Starbucks partner in Japan places food in a bakery case

Starbucks Japan launches new program to reduce food waste : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Japan launches new program to reduce food waste

As part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to fight against hunger, participating stores will mark down select bakery products prior to closing.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-japan-launches-new-program-to-reduce-food-waste/

Starbucks Coffee Japan will reduce its waste footprint through innovative re-use and recycling initiatives that positively impact its communities

Innovative coffee grounds recycle program will deliver new menu choices to consumers, while supporting local farmers

Starbucks Coffee Japan also plans to increase career opportunities, as it aims to reach 2,000 stores in market by the end of 2024

As part of Starbucks global commitment to reducing its waste footprint by 50% by 2030, Starbucks Coffee Japan today announced a series of re-usability and recycling initiatives to advance this goal. It will launch a new menu range featuring locally-sourced ingredients produced using recycled coffee grounds, as well as introduce tumbler recycling for customers and a cup share program.

“We set ambitious goals to become a resource-positive company, and we continue to explore innovative ways to bring our partners and communities together around the shared desire to protect the planet,” said John Culver, group president, International, Channel Development and Global Coffee, Tea &amp; Cocoa. “Launching a new closed-loop menu is another way to give our customers in Japan more options to enjoy lower-impact and locally-sourced ingredients as part of their Starbucks Experience.”

"Since first opening our doors to customers 25 years ago, we have grown our business in Japan responsibly, now operating more than 1,600 stores with 40,000 partners proudly wearing the green apron every day. As we work to create a more planet and people-positive future, we’re proud to have created a range of initiatives that will help create a culture of reuse, while providing new opportunities to give back to our farmers and the neighborhoods we serve,” said Takafumi Minaguchi, ceo of Starbucks Coffee Japan. “We will continue to deliver an unparalleled Starbucks Experience, while taking on challenges that benefit our people and communities across Japan.”

Starbucks Coffee Japan will introduce three circularity strategies to reduce its waste footprint, while creating positive impact for local communities:

Producing new menu items through its Coffee Grounds Recycling Loop program

Customers can choose from three new food items that feature locally-sourced carrots and matcha green tea powder produced by its Coffee Grounds Recycling Loop program.

Through the program, Starbucks has partnered with farmers across Japan since 2014 to recycle used coffee grounds from its stores in Kanto and Kansai for agricultural compost and animal feed used to produce vegetables, green tea, and milk, which is incorporated into signature beverages, such as lattes.

Starbucks is now working with farmers to bring these ingredients back into its stores for customers to enjoy. Available nationwide, new menu items include:

Evolving the program is part of Starbucks ongoing approach to engaging its customers and communities in its resource-positive journey, by working with its farmers to create sustainable farming processes and offering customers new ways to enjoy locally-sourced and lower impact ingredients as part of their Starbucks Experience.

Coffee grounds are the top source of in-store food waste for Starbucks in Japan. By providing coffee grounds to the 28 farmers participating in the program, as well as using them to develop store furnishings such as art installations and trays, Starbucks will reduce coffee grounds waste by 50%.

Across the wider Asia Pacific region, Starbucks has also run a Coffee Grounds recycling program with farmers across South Korea since 2015, which produces a range of packaged food items that it sells in its stores. The company also runs the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-coffee-grounds-for-the-garden/#:~:text=Starbucks%20started%20its%20Grounds%20for,ship%20espresso%20beans%20to%20stores.">Grounds for Your Garden</a> program across various markets around the world including the U.S., Indonesia, and many more, providing customers with used coffee grounds from stores to use as garden fertilizer.

In-store recycling and waste reduction

In a pilot project running this summer, Starbucks will launch a tumbler collection and recycling program, collecting used tumblers from customers across 500 stores nationwide. The recycled tumblers will be used to create new merchandise items, available in stores from 2022.

Starbucks will also launch a new food waste reduction program across all its stores nationwide. At the end of each day, customers will be able to purchase unsold fresh products about to expire at a discount.

Shifting from single-use to reusable cups

Starbucks will launch a Reusable Cup-Share program across select stores in the Marunouchi district of Tokyo. Customers will be served their beverage in a reusable cup and can return their cups at participating stores. Reusable cups will be collected, washed and sanitized by a third-party company.

The program will help create a culture of re-use on the go, by providing a convenient way for customers to reduce disposable cup usage within their immediate vicinity. It will provide valuable insights into how to scale the program across the market, as the company works towards its global goal of reducing waste by 50% by 2030.

The company continues to explore sustainable store design as part of its global efforts to reduce its environmental impact. It will open its Kokyo (Imperial Palace) Gaien Wadakura Fountain Park Store in Tokyo later this year. Designed using lower-impact materials, it will serve as a testbed for Starbucks Coffee Japan’s sustainability initiatives. Starbucks Coffee Japan will <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-japan-announces-renewable-energy-stores/">also transition all 350free-standing company-operated stores to 100% renewable energy</a>.

In addition to its planet-positive initiatives, Starbucks Coffee Japan has also committed to creating opportunities for its partners (employees), with a focus on contributing to economic development in local communities through tailored career paths. This comes as the company continues to expand its stores footprint in Japan through purpose-driven growth, opening 100 new stores per year with the goal of reaching 2,000 stores by the end of 2024.

Starbucks first entered Japan in 1996, making it the first international market outside of North America. With more than 1,600 stores, Japan is Starbucks third largest market globally and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/celebrating-the-25th-year-of-starbucks-in-japan/">celebrates its 25th anniversary</a> this year.

Starbucks Japan Announces Circularity Innovations as Part of Planet-Positive Agenda : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Japan Announces Circularity Innovations as Part of Planet-Positive Agenda

Starbucks Japan announces reusability and recycling initiatives to advance planet positive goals.

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-japan-announces-circularity-innovations/

As part of Starbucks global commitment to decrease carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, Starbucks Coffee Japan will transition all 350 free-standing company-operated stores, approximately 20% of its portfolio, to 100% renewable energy by the end of October 2021. The energy powering these stores is locally-sourced and locally-consumed, and ranges from solar, water, wind and geothermal power sources depending on the natural resources of local communities.

As of April 2021, the transition has been completed in 301 stores, and will extend to 350 locations including stores in Hokkaido, Tohoku and Okinawa by the end of October. For stores operating on shared power such as at malls and other commercial facilities, Starbucks continues to work with leasing facilities, licensees and business partners to find carbon-neutral solutions that will take the company closer toward its resource-positive aspirations.

Starbucks Japan announces 20% of stores to be powered by renewable energy : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Japan announces 20% of stores to be powered by renewable energy

As part of Starbucks global commitment to reduce carbon emissions, 350 stores in Japan will transition to renewable energy by the end of October.

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-japan-announces-renewable-energy-stores/

Range of new sustainable packaging invites Chinese customers to take small steps towards a better planet

Extension of Starbucks ‘GOOD GOOD’ movement beyond offering plant-based food and beverage menu

Latest of Starbucks efforts to reduce environmental impact at every stage of the coffee journey

This Earth Day, Starbucks invites customers to take simple actions that are good for the planet in their daily lifestyles. As part of its ‘GOOD GOOD’ movement, Starbucks will be rolling out a range of new sustainable packaging in its stores across the Chinese mainland, including coffee ground straws - the first major food and beverage retail chain in the market to do so at scale. Together with the launch of reusable for-here cold beverage cups and to-go wooden flatware, it marks the latest of Starbucks continuous efforts to reduce environmental impact at every stage of the coffee journey ‘from bean to cup’.

“Starbucks new sustainable packaging solutions make it easier for our partners (employees) and customers to make small contributions towards a better planet in their daily lives. Sustainable packaging is an extension of the Starbucks ‘GOOD GOOD’ movement, as we seek to invite everyone to eat good, feel good and do good. We firmly believe that the cumulative impact of our every action, however small, can add up to effect real change and make a positive difference to the environment,” said Leo Tsoi, senior vice president, chief operating officer and president, Starbucks China Retail.

Starbucks new coffee ground straws are made using coffee grounds and Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), and are 90 percent biodegradable within four months under standard conditions, far exceeding the six-month criteria under both national and international regulatory requirements. Apart from being eco-friendlier, the material is more compact and resilient compared to paper straws, which will be gradually phased out. Customers will be able to enjoy a superior experience as coffee ground straws are more suited for stirring, and can be soaked in beverages for longer periods without turning soft. They also enable smoother suction for customers consuming beverages containing fruit bits. Coffee ground straws were first piloted in selected stores in the market in February, and have received positive feedback from customers. Starting tomorrow, it will be launched in more than 850 Starbucks stores in Shanghai, before subsequent roll out to the rest of the Chinese mainland by the end of the year.

To be launched concurrently in Starbucks stores in Shanghai are specially designed reusable for-here cold beverage cups made from food contact resin, which customers can choose to replace single use plastic cups in-store. Developed by Starbucks China’s R&amp;D team, the new cup had undergone rigorous testing for durability, and is able to withstand over 1,000 times of thorough washing and sanitizing. It was first piloted in Guangzhou and Hainan province last December, and will be rolled out to the rest of the market by the end of the year.

In addition, all Starbucks stores in the Chinese mainland will introduce newly developed biodegradable wooden flatware for to-go consumption, replacing plastic cutlery which will be discontinued. Reusable serve ware will continue to be provided for all in-store consumption. The initiatives are estimated to eliminate a total of over 500 tons of plastic and 350 tons of waste per year when fully rolled out. On top of sustainable packaging innovations, Starbucks will continue to promote waste reduction by offering a 4RMB discount for customers who bring their own tumblers/cups.

The introduction of the latest sustainable packaging solutions comes a year after Starbucks first launched its ‘GOOD GOOD’ Movement inspiring Chinese customers to explore new lifestyles that are good for the planet, starting with the market-wide offering of a plant-based food and beverage menu in partnership with plant-based innovators Beyond Meat, Inc. and Oatly. The menu continues to be refreshed, most recently with the launch of two ‘GOOD GOOD’ limited time offer beverages in late March – the new Oatmilk Velvet Latte, and the return of seasonal favorite Berries Oatmilk Black Tea Macchiato.

Starbucks sustainability efforts are driven by its aspiration to become a resource positive company that gives more than it takes from the planet. The company has set science-based preliminary targets for 50 percent reductions of carbon, water and waste globally&nbsp;by 2030, and just last month announced a new goal to achieve Carbon Neutral Green Coffee and conserve water usage in green coffee processing by 50 percent by 2030.

Food and beverages available at Starbucks in China

Starbucks Launches Sustainability Innovations in China : Starbucks Stories Asia

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Starbucks Launches Sustainability Innovations in China

Starbucks rolls out a new range of sustainable packaging to stores across China.

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/sites/29/2021/04/China-Earth-Day-FY21-1024x683.jpg

https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-launches-sustainability-innovations-in-china/

In celebration of Earth Day, Starbucks is partnering with design-driven global accessories brand, Herschel Supply Co., to bring customers innovative reusable products made from recycled coffee grounds.

Available for a limited time exclusively at Starbucks® stores in Asia, the Starbucks® X Herschel Supply Co. merchandise collection is inspired by a shared love of coffee, people and planet. For the first time in Asia, Starbucks offers both accessories and drinkware made from recycled coffee grounds, offering customers another way to express their unique personal style and celebrate their love for the planet.

Perfect for summer adventures and everyday occasions, the collection includes stylish backpacks, accessories, and a range of sustainable and reusable drinkware. Designs inspired by ruby-red coffee cherries speak to a shared love of coffee, people and planet.

“Starbucks is proud to launch our second collection with Herschel Supply Co., harnessing our scale for good, and creating positive impact through our collaborative partnerships,” said Erin Silvoy, vice president, Product and Marketing, Starbucks Asia Pacific. “As we look to create a resource positive future, Starbucks is committed to taking action together with our customers to protect the planet we share.”

“Our new collection with Starbucks gives recycled materials a new lease of life,” said Jamie Cormack, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Herschel Supply Co. “It also showcases the limitless possibilities of what we can achieve when we work together to incorporate recycled materials and the principles of reusability in all aspects of our lives.”

The limited-edition designer collaboration will be available starting April 22 at select Starbucks® stores across Asia while supplies last.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Starbucks. From the beginning, Starbucks has sought to be a different kind of company, one that inspires and nurtures the human spirit, bringing people together over coffee to create a better future. In 2020, Starbucks announced its <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/starbucks-solidifies-pathway-to-a-planet-positive-future/">Planet Positive aspirations,</a> a multi-decade commitment to become a resource positive company by reducing its carbon, water, and waste by 50 percent.

sustainability