Updated October 20, 2021

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In collaboration with <a href="https://www.closedlooppartners.com/">Closed Loop Partners</a> and the <a href="https://www.closedlooppartners.com/nextgen/">NextGen Consortium</a>, Starbucks is working toward our goal to develop 100% compostable and recyclable hot cups. The journey to find a more sustainable cup solution is part of Starbucks aspiration to be&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/starbucks-solidifies-pathway-to-a-planet-positive-future/">resource positive</a>, giving more than it takes from the planet.

In 2018, Starbucks <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/starbucks-and-closed-loop-to-develop-recyclable-compostable-cup-solution/">committed $10M</a> in partnership with Closed Loop Partners to establish the NextGen Consortium and Cup Challenge, along with co-founder McDonald’s. Additionally, Starbucks invested $5M in Closed Loop Partners’ Infrastructure Fund that finances recycling and circular economy infrastructure across North America.

The NextGen Cup Challenge began with a six-month design competition that received 480 solutions globally from industry experts and cup scientists alike focused on redesigning the single-use hot and cold fiber cup. From there, the Consortium identified&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/closed-loop-partners-announces-12-winners-of-the-nextgen-cup-challenge/">12 winning</a>&nbsp;solutions across three areas: innovative cup &amp; cup liners, new materials, and reusable cup service models.

In March of 2019, Starbucks announced a commitment to&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/greener-cups-fewer-straws-and-tracing-your-coffees-journey-via-app/">conduct market tests</a>&nbsp;with a winning cup technology in select stores in five cities. Starbucks then led months of internal research and development at their Tryer Center, to put the various cups through an array of tests for quality and performance measurements. In addition, the company evaluated manufacturing logistics, scalability, and pricing of each cup. &nbsp;

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/starbucks-trials-a-nextgen-cup-solution/">In-store market testing</a> began in the spring of 2020 with a cup that was industrially compostable as well as recyclable in markets that accept hot cups. Starbucks selected cup technology – a BioPBS™-lined cup – was circulated in select stores in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, New York and London.

The testing doesn’t end there. Starbucks is currently working with Closed Loop Partners, the Consortium, and other businesses to test and validate the recyclability of various challenge winners, including the BioPBS™ cup. This includes <a href="https://www.closedlooppartners.com/starbucks-and-mcdonalds-deploy-additional-10-million-with-nextgen-consortium-to-accelerate-the-circularity-of-foodservice-packaging-address-urgent-waste-challenge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">an additional $10M commitment from Starbucks and McDonald’s</a> combined to continue the Consortium’s work: identifying, accelerating, and scaling commercially viable, circular foodservice packaging solutions.

With the additional $10 million in funding, the Consortium will expand its efforts, including and beyond the fiber cup, to strengthen the sustainable packaging ecosystem. The Consortium will deepen its customer research and testing of reusable packaging systems, explore the circularity of additional packaging materials such as polypropylene (PP), and accelerate the development of more widely recyclable and compostable fiber-based packaging solutions, as well as the infrastructure pathways needed for their recovery.

In addition to efforts with the Consortium, Starbucks will continue to test and learn from programs geared toward reducing single-use cups around the world, as part of the company’s larger goal to reduce waste sent to landfills by 50% by 2030.

Update on Starbucks Journey to Find a More Sustainable Cup - Starbucks Stories

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Update on Starbucks Journey to Find a More Sustainable Cup

Starbucks outlines its journey with the NextGen Cup Challenge and plans for in-market tests.

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On its journey to develop a more recyclable and compostable hot cup solution by 2022, Starbucks announced today details for in-market testing of a more sustainable cup technology from the NextGen Cup Challenge. Starting on Monday, March 9th, a new BioPBS™-lined cup will be in circulation in select stores in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, New York and London.

The tests are designed to provide key insights and learnings into the partner and customer in-store experience with the goal of no noticeable differences in performance between the new cup and current cup. In addition, in conjunction with Closed Loop Partners, Starbucks is conducting separate tests designed to validate that this particular cup technology can be recycled more readily than the current cup. 

In January, Starbucks <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/starbucks-announces-multi-decade-aspiration-to-become-resource-positive/">announced a multi-decade aspiration</a> to be resource positive, giving more than it takes from the planet. As part of its sustainability commitment, the company is focusing on ways to better manage its waste, both in Starbucks stores and in the communities it serves by ensuring more reuse and recycling.&nbsp;While this cup trial is an exciting step forward, Starbucks will continue to evaluate additional NextGen Cup Challenge winning concepts and cup technologies, as well as learn from other reusable and recyclable innovations to find the most sustainable solutions for its business, partners (employees) and customers.

Update on Starbucks Journey to Find a More Sustainable Cup 

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Starbucks trials a NextGen Cup solution - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks begins trials of recyclable, compostable cup solution in five markets.

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Starbucks trials a NextGen Cup solution

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