Spring Into a New Habit with Starbucks on Earth Day

Starbucks gives away a limited number of free reusable cups in participating stores across Great Britain, in activity supported by Clean Up Britain

LONDON, 22nd April 2017; To mark Earth Day on 22 April, Starbucks is encouraging customers to get into the habit of using a reusable cup when they visit stores by giving away over 18,500 reusable cups, accompanied by a new cup sleeve design, with a ‘Reuse to Reduce’ waste message.* This activity is supported by waste campaigners Clean Up Britain and aims to drive awareness, as well as encourage behaviour change for customers.

Starbucks is committing to leading on solutions to help reduce its impact on the environment, including with paper cups. This includes exploring ways to collect uncontaminated paper cups to enable effective recycling and testing new recyclable paper cup options to meet safety standards.

This reusable cup giveaway and awareness message on cup sleeves, accompanies the long-standing 25p discount offered to customers using a reusable cup - an incentive Starbucks has had in place for over a decade.

“Clean Up Britain champions long term sustainable change and we are extremely supportive of Starbucks efforts to promote reusable cups, and understand what prompts people to make the switch,” said John Read, founder of Clean Up Britain. “It won’t be easy - and will take time - but it’s great to see one of the world’s biggest coffee companies seeking solutions to this challenge.”

"With our Earth Day giveaway, we are inviting our customers to try to create a new cup habit and help reduce our impact on the environment,” said Simon Redfern, vice president communications for Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We are continuing our efforts with industry partners to find a sustainable and safe long term solution."

Recyclable cups are available to customers in participating stores whilst stocks last.

*To find your nearest participating store in England, Scotland and Wales please visit: https://www.starbucks.co.uk/store-locator