The tall, grande, venti and trenta cups, which debut this month, will keep more than 13.5 million pounds of plastic from landfills each year.

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In the last four years, Kyle Walker has learned more about the Starbucks cold drink cup than he ever thought he needed to know. How much pressure can you apply to the top and the sides before it crumples? What’s the exact angle of a full cup right before it tips over when you slide it across the bar? What does a perfect lid-to-rim fit feel like?

And the most important question at the center of his team’s testing and research at a laboratory inside <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/inside-the-tryer-center-the-starbucks-lab-where-anything-is-possible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Tryer Center</a>, Starbucks innovation hub in Seattle: How much plastic can you remove from a cup while making sure it still feels sturdy in a customer’s hand?&nbsp;&nbsp;

This April, Starbucks is proud to announce the debut of a lineup of more sustainable cold cups in stores across the U.S. and Canada. They're not only made with less plastic than previous cold cups, they are also projected to reduce emissions and conserve water in the production process, while streamlining the workflow for store partners (employees) by consolidating the lid combinations and simplifying storage.

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The new cups – the first single-use cups designed by Starbucks in the Tryer Center specifically to be more sustainable and accessible – are part of Starbucks commitment to cut its carbon, water and waste footprints in half by 2030. Also in that timeframe, Starbucks has committed to making sure all customer packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable.&nbsp;

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Based on analysis of life cycle assessments, producing the new cups is projected to save, annually, emissions equivalent to taking about 5,200 cars off the road, and conserve about 2,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water. The new cups will keep more than 13.5 million pounds of plastic from landfills each year. And they cost less to make.

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By improving the sustainability of our single-use cups, we are making progress to achieve our 2030 resource-positive goals. For example, the new cups will:

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*Impact projections are estimated

The new tall, grande, venti and trenta-sized cups use 10 to 20 percent less plastic compared to previous cold cups.&nbsp;Feedback from store partners and customers informed the key features. Baristas made drinks in test and store settings, rating the feel and performance of different iterations. Customers responded to surveys via QR codes. &nbsp;

&nbsp;“We invented new ways to test the cup that we didn’t have before,” Walker remembers. “Like, what if we take this feature and we move it up or down? Or what if we change the shape or the radius in this very small way? We were making all these micro adjustments and when we found the optimal combination, it was a real Eureka moment!”&nbsp;

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Accessibility features were folded in. Raised dots signify different sizes that can be felt by a swipe of the thumb, for those with low visibility. Letters are embossed on the bottom of the cup, so baristas can quickly confirm what size they’re grabbing during a busy rush when all the cups are stacked upside down. Black and white “fill lines,” indicating measurement specifications, allow for contrast against both light- and dark-colored drinks. &nbsp;

And crucial for partners: the tall, grande and venti cups all use the same size lid. To achieve this, the tall cup was redesigned with a wider mouth and profile, to still hold the same 12 ounces. Previously, the tall cup had multiple lid options, and the grande and venti cups shared a different lid.

The multiple lids had to be stored and stocked separately, which created clutter and took up valuable shelf space. Sleeves of the new cups will also be color-coded instead of coming in clear bags, helping with identification. The trenta size will use a different lid.&nbsp;

“We’re in the efficiency business,” says Kristi H., a 26-year partner and store manager in Washington state, whose team tested the cup as it was being developed. “Anytime we can streamline or shave seconds off our operations, it frees us up to have more human connections with our customers, and just have more fun at work. ...&nbsp;

“Anytime we can get behind anything with less of an environmental footprint is huge. It’s a small step to the bigger good.”

Photos by Connor Surdi, illustrations by Kelly Fulton

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The tall, grande, venti and trenta cups, which debut this month, will keep more than 13.5 million pounds from landfills each year.

New, more sustainable Starbucks cold cups are made with up to 20 percent less plastic - Starbucks Stories

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Stories to inspire and nurture the human spirit

Starbucks Stories

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New, more sustainable Starbucks cold cups are made with up to 20 percent less plastic

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At Starbucks, we remain committed to responsibly sourcing coffee, tea and cocoa. We take this commitment seriously because we know that our future is directly linked to the livelihoods of farmers, suppliers, their families, local communities and our planet. Our approach to sourcing cocoa responsibly is built on a foundation of traceability, responsible purchasing practices and a commitment to supporting sustainable livelihoods for cocoa producers and their families, including reducing – and collectively working towards eliminating – the risks of child labor and cocoa-driven deforestation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Starbucks is a signatory member of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/starbucks-membership-of-the-cocoa-forests-initiative-and-the-collective-commitment-to-end-cocoa-related-deforestation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cocoa &amp; Forest Initiative’s (CFI) framework</a> to help end deforestation in Ivory Coast and a member of the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) and the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO) to evolve and strengthen our approach to responsibly-sourced cocoa. By engaging in these sector initiatives, we are committed to working with stakeholders to advance effective solutions and strengthen our contribution to the cocoa sector.&nbsp;

Human Rights and Deforestation&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

We continue to source <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/business/the-rainforest-alliance-certification-program-a-useful-tool-for-due-diligence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rainforest Alliance certified</a> cocoa and pay premiums that are distributed through the value chain, including to cocoa farmers who achieve Rainforest Alliance certification. The standard set forth by Rainforest Alliance supports our due diligence efforts, in line with our <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/global-human-rights-statement/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global human rights statement</a>, which reflects the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights. And because certification is just one part of a holistic approach to building deforestation-free supply chains, we are also a signatory member of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/starbucks-membership-of-the-cocoa-forests-initiative-and-the-collective-commitment-to-end-cocoa-related-deforestation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cocoa &amp; Forest Initiative</a> (CFI) that aims to:&nbsp;&nbsp;

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In addition, Starbucks is building a more robust approach to human rights and deforestation – beginning with the review of our current human rights and deforestation policies over the next year, as well as deployment of a human and environmental rights saliency assessment.&nbsp;

Supporting Farmers and Their Families&nbsp;&nbsp;

Starbucks is committed to pursuing sustainable livelihoods for cocoa producers and their families. We pay a sustainability premium per metric ton of cocoa sourced to implement activities with cocoa producers, cooperatives and communities. Starbucks actively engages with its cocoa suppliers to collectively address the root causes of poverty through a smart mix of agronomic, environmental, social and capacity building interventions. As a member of the ISCO Working Group on Child Labor we are working with likeminded companies to eliminate all forms of child labor in line with UN targets. &nbsp;

Traceability&nbsp;&nbsp;

We aspire to advance traceability in our supply chain and report progress in our 2024 Global Environmental Social Impact Report and our 2024 Cocoa &amp; Forests Initiative (CFI) progress report. Through our Cocoa &amp; Forests Initiative <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2023/08/CFI-Ending-Cocoa-Deforestation-Aug-2023-Update.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">action plan</a> we are committed to increasing our traceability through farm mapping within our direct supply chain and implementing traceability tools to increase transparency from first point of purchase by 2025.&nbsp;

Starbucks also participated in the 2023 Chocolate Scorecard, which aims to hold organizations accountable and provide more transparency around how brands are measured against key challenges facing the cocoa industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Throughout Starbucks history, we have sought to be a different kind of company.&nbsp; We are driven by purpose, to create positive impact and we strive to lead by example. We know that addressing global systemic issues cannot be done alone and we will continue to partner closely with Rainforest Alliance, CFI and others to advance our collective goals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Every year, we set ambitious goals across a range of Environmental, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) initiatives. We do this to meet the moment, and to exceed the expectations of our partners, customers, suppliers and the communities we work in every day.&nbsp; By doing this well, we support the responsible growth of our business. Learn more in our <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2023/2022-starbucks-global-environmental-and-social-impact-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022 Global Environmental and Social Impact (GESI) Report</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At Starbucks, we remain committed to responsibly sourcing coffee, tea and cocoa.

Our Commitment to Responsible Sourcing for Cocoa

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Furthering their resource-positive commitments, Starbucks launched a reusable cup test in 12 Starbucks stores in Napa and Petaluma, California today. From August 14 through October 22, customers at&nbsp;participating stores will be able to bring their own personal cup in café or drive-thru, be offered a Borrow A Cup from Starbucks, or choose For Here Ware, a reusable ceramic or glass cup for customers who opt to sit and stay in café.

Starbucks teamed up with TURN Systems for the test, using their high-tech collection bins to understand cup return behavior. Customers who bring in their own clean personal cup will receive the standard $0.10 off with an additional 25 Bonus Stars for Starbucks Rewards members.* When a customer returns a borrowed cup, they also have the option to register online with TURN for a chance to win a prize.**&nbsp;

“Our latest round of reusables tests around the world contribute to our goal for all customer packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable in the future. We know our partners and customers care about the planet, and we’re proud to offer them ways to join us in in making sustainable choices in their everyday lives,” said Amelia Landers, vp, Business Strategy, Partner &amp; Customer Solutions.

Reusables tests help drive progress toward Starbucks commitment to reduce waste sent to landfill. Starbucks is committed to cutting their waste footprint in half by 2030 and recently updated their target to include a commitment for all customer packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable.&nbsp;

Starbucks has conducted reusables tests in more than 25 markets around the world with more planned in the year ahead. The test in California is the latest Starbucks test in U.S. with additional reusables tests completed in Colorado and ongoing in Arizona.&nbsp; The SODO 8 store inside Starbucks Seattle headquarters has been serving 100% of beverages in reusable cups since March 2022.

“These types of tests are extremely important so that the company can understand all the different ways we can make an impact and move towards goals that we have set for the future,” said Tonya Palacios, Starbucks district manager, who leads the stores conducting the test. Tonya is also a Starbucks College Achievement Plan graduate, currently pursuing a master's degree in Sustainability Leadership. “I’m optimistic that we will execute the test at a high level and gather lots of feedback that will influence the next step in reusable cups and our sustainability goals.”&nbsp;

Choosing reusables is a new habit for many customers. Starbucks’ behavioral science-based research shows ease and convenience are foundational. Personal cup washers were developed in partnership with our store partners in the Starbucks Tryer Innovation Lab and created to ensure convenience for customers bringing their own cup. In participating stores across Arizona State University campus, customers can wash their personal cup or a returned Borrow A Cup right at the counter in the time it takes to complete their order.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Since May, Starbucks has been conducting a 100% reusables test at participating ASU campus stores and every customer who brings in their own personal reusable cup or reuse a Borrow A Cup from a previous visit can receive a $1 discount on their beverage order. Customers can also return their Borrow A Cup to special return bins around campus that were designed by the ASU Circular Living Lab using the equivalent of 1,350 repurposed single-use cups.

Bringing customers a reusables experience on the go

With the majority of Starbucks beverages enjoyed on the go, the company continues to test and learn how to best provide customers the option to shift toward reusables. Customers across Colorado can now bring their own personal cup in drive-thru, the result of a successful personal cup test run from April to June, and they will receive a $0.10 discount on their order and 25 Bonus Stars for Starbucks Rewards members.

Starting in 2024, customers in all Starbucks Stores across the U.S. and Canada will be able to bring their personal cup wherever they order, including in café, drive-thru or mobile order and pay.

*Valid at participating stores on in-store beverage purchases only (max 3x per day).

**NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO PLAY OR WIN. Participation constitutes the participant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules (https://turnus.in/pages/CSB15). Open to legal residents of California at the time of Game Play who are at least 18. The Turn Reusable Cup Instant Win Game (“Game”) begins on August 14th, 2023, and ends on October 22, 2023. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Total Prize ARV: $200,000. &nbsp;The Game is sponsored by TURN Systems Corporation (“Sponsor”).&nbsp;

Three empty reusable Starbucks cups in different sizes, on a table in a Starbucks cafe

Starting in 2024, customers in all Starbucks stores across the U.S. and Canada will be able to bring their personal cup wherever they order, including in café, drive-thru or mobile order and pay.

Starbucks Latest California Borrow A Cup Test Furthers Company’s Shift Toward Reusables

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Starbucks Latest California Borrow A Cup Test Furthers Company’s Shift Toward Reusables 

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At Starbucks, we’ve always been committed to working alongside communities to help people thrive and protect the planet. Since the introduction of our first Caffè Latte in 1984, cow’s milk has been an integral ingredient for the company. As a company that works with and relies on the farming community every day, we have a responsibility to help drive solutions to reach our resource positive goals, support farmers and help ensure a sustainable future of dairy. &nbsp;

Collaborating with farmers to help support a sustainable future is work we’ve done before. Just as with our coffee, Starbucks goal is for the dairy we buy to be produced under high quality and responsible practices.

Over the past few years, Starbucks has been partnering with dairy cooperatives and farmers to implement solutions across our supply chain and is positioned to expand within its company-operated markets around the world. In China, Starbucks is collaborating with The Nature Conservancy to engage farms in sustainability initiatives like carbon assessments and improvement projects.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In November 2023, Starbucks awarded over $3.1M in cost-share funding to seven California dairy farms participating in the Sustainable Dairy Program. This funding supports eighteen new dairy farm practices and projects, aiming to ensure a sustainable future for dairy. Some examples of these projects include:&nbsp;

The projects represent a significant decrease in total carbon reduction contributing to our efforts to cut our carbon footprint in half by 2030 and continuing support for dairy farmers on their sustainability journey.&nbsp;

In addition to the support farmers receive through the Starbucks Sustainable Dairy Program, Starbucks is also leveraging those dollars to support farmers through additional grant opportunities. MDVA is a key dairy supplier for Starbucks and has made great strides in the program this past year. They will be the next set of cost-share fund recipients in 2024 in the United States.&nbsp;

"Starbucks Sustainable Dairy Program has made a real difference on our member farms - Starbucks is not only bringing resources to our members but providing leadership and direction to help shape a new dairy supply chain where there is a shared responsibility from farm to customer for the environmental impact of dairy. With strategic investments in best management practices, dairy has the opportunity to be an environmental solution and gain the confidence of our dairy consumers in our sustainability journey." Lindsay Reames, Executive Vice President, Sustainability &amp; External Relations, Maryland &amp; Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative. &nbsp;

“White Rock Farms LLC chose to participate in this program because we are proud of the milk we produce and the practices we follow. This program supports our endeavors to farm in a sustainable way that reflects the values of our farm, Starbucks, and our customers,” said Roddy Purser.&nbsp;

By the end of this fiscal year, Starbucks plans to continue to drive methane reduction and expand enrollment in its Sustainable Dairy Program to 100% of the company’s U.S. dairy supply chain. &nbsp;

In addition, Starbucks has joined the <a href="https://www.edf.org/article/global-food-companies-join-edf-for-groundbreaking-step-on-dairy-methane" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dairy Methane Action Alliance</a> (DMAA) led by The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to create a dairy methane action plan and report on global dairy methane emissions for Starbucks company-operated fluid milk supply.&nbsp;

Most recently, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2024/starbucks-journey-to-sustainable-dairy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks Canada announced</a> a collaboration with Dairy Farmers of Canada to help accelerate environmental stewardship on Canada’s dairies with an investment of $500,000 to support dairy sustainability-focused projects over the course of this year, rewarding the continued efforts of Canadian dairy farmers on their path to net zero.&nbsp;

Starbucks Sustainable Dairy Program&nbsp;

Toward that effort, in 2022 Starbucks launched its Sustainable Dairy Program in the United States, designed to advance environmental stewardship, help enhance farmer and workforce conditions, and help ensure the quality care of animals. The program provides farmers with tools and information to help ensure a more sustainable dairy industry for future generations, including: &nbsp;

Kathryn, a farmer enrolled in the Starbucks Sustainable Dairy Program, shares the sustainable practices her family uses on their farm in California.&nbsp;

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To date, farms representing 100% of the dairy we purchase in California through the California Dairies Inc. cooperative have joined the Starbucks Sustainable Dairy Program. We’ve completed carbon baseline activities and the evaluation of social, environmental and animal care practices on the majority of participating farms in California, Oregon, and Washington. By the end of this fiscal year, we plan to have over 60% of our U.S. supply chain participating in the program. &nbsp;

Collaboration has been key for Starbucks to implement the program on dairy farms, including partnership with SCS Global Services, who helped tailor a whole farm assessment model that fits the Starbucks dairy supply chain, and Sustainable Environmental Consultants, who have partnered to collect and analyze environmental data from dairy farms and support the development of continuous improvement plans to reduce carbon emissions. &nbsp;

U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative

In 2020, Starbucks joined the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative (NZI), a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/starbucks-solidifies-pathway-to-a-planet-positive-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">partnership</a> of the U.S. dairy community working to accelerate industry-wide progress toward achieving greenhouse gas neutrality and improvements in water conservation and quality on farms.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Through NZI, Starbucks partners directly with farmers in our supply chain and has committed to invest $10 million toward the research and implementation of new practices in feed production to manure management, nutrition and on-farm energy efficiency with the goal of providing farmers with technology and environmental practices.&nbsp;

An example of how this partnership comes to life is a pilot with Alliance Dairies in Florida implementing a full suite of technologies and practices across several workstreams to demonstrate outcomes that are economically viable and sustainable with the potential to eliminate up to 25% of feed loss, reduce carbon, increase renewable energy and decrease&nbsp;diesel use. The learnings from this pilot will be shared to help more farmers and support impact at scale.

In partnership with the University of Florida, NZI is conducting an enteric methane study determining the ability of daily feed intake and enteric methane emissions measurement to detect reductions in methane production expected from utilizing a feed additive called Rumensin. Additional feed additives are also being vetted for testing to increase the options available for farmers. Results from this work will help to ensure that enteric mitigation practices are effective and economical in a controlled research environment before applying these practices on the farm.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/starbucks-journey-to-sustainable-dairy/">Learn more about Starbucks journey to sustainable dairy.</a>&nbsp;

Smiling person holding Starbucks cup in front of cows in a dairy barn

Just as with our coffee, Starbucks goal is for the dairy we buy to be produced under high quality, sustainable and responsible practices.

Starbucks furthers commitment to sustainable dairy

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A Starbucks store is certified as a “Greener Store” when it successfully meets 25 required standards, as verified by an outside auditor, across eight environmental impact areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion. The standards were developed in partnership with the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Wildlife Fund</a> and SCS Global Services.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The Greener Stores journey is truly a Starbucks-wide effort, from our store designers and construction teams to software developers who ensure we can collect sustainability data on a global scale to our store partners (employees) who encourage customers to use reusable cups or Grounds for Your Garden,” says Grace Yoo, Starbucks Greener Stores global program manager.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Most of them look no different from any other Starbucks store,” Yoo says, “but there are Greener Stores quietly opening and operating all throughout the world, with unglamorous details like energy-efficient dishwashers, water-saving faucets, and carefully thought-out waste diversion signage to help do our part in mitigating the effects of climate change.”&nbsp;

As of April 2023, Starbucks has certified more than 3,500 Greener Stores in the U.S. and Canada. This month, 88 Greener Stores were certified in 18 additional markets around the world, such as Argentina, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. Starbucks goal is to certify 10,000 Greener Stores around the world by 2025. &nbsp;

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What makes a Greener Store?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Water Stewardship&nbsp;&nbsp;

At the 2023 Greener Store of the Year in Los Angeles, Starbucks is piloting a water-reclamation project that takes the residual moisture from the store’s ice machine and water-filtration system – that would normally flow into the sewer – and diverts it instead into four 55-gallon storage tanks. Every time the store’s toilet flushes, it uses water from those tanks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The store has reclaimed about 2,500 gallons of water from January through March 2023, and is using about 27 gallons per day, on average, of reclaimed water to flush the toilets.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Out West, in an area where water usage and water rights dominate the headlines, we’re stepping up and trying to help with the problem,” says Matt Robitaille, Starbucks construction program manager who helped design, build and install the system.&nbsp;

Partner Engagement&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more than a year, Becca Rollins, store manager in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has used a reusable cup every day at her store. She knits reusable-cup cozies for her store partners and regular customers, and encourages a back-of-house competition for each partner to track their reusable cup use. Last fall, she even presented a letter to regular customers Russ and Sally, a retired couple who bring their own cups and silverware every time they visit, for being sustainable customers. She estimates they’ve saved 1,500 single-use items from the landfill. She’s also an advocate in her district for the&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/starbucks-grounds-for-your-garden-rooted-in-a-mission-to-help-local-communities-grow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grounds For Your Garden</a> program.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“About a year ago, I started taking some things a little more seriously as far as imprint and making planet-positive decisions,” Rollins says. “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in this world by everything that goes on. Just focus on the most good that you can do. It matters.”&nbsp;

Greener Store practices have helped Starbucks save almost $60 million in annual operating costs in the U.S., including 30 percent water savings and 25 percent energy reduction when compared to historic store practices. These include efforts such as retrofitting store lighting to LEDs; installing more energy-efficient appliances like Advansys dishwashers and ENERGY STAR certified batch-type ice makers; and standardizing energy-use schedules and heating/cooling temperatures.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Despite challenges to implementation, such as differing rules and availability in each city and town, Starbucks recycles in more than 8,000 company-operated stores across the U.S. More than 3,000 have both recycling and compost services. In Greener Stores, the goal is to align the different rules around waste in each municipality with the workflow and best practices inside each store. That means clear signage around what items go in what bin; the use of an internal Recycling App that sets clear expectations around what things are picked up and when; and locating waste receptables where they can be most efficient – for example, putting a compost bin next to the warming ovens to catch all the parchment paper used to heat up food.&nbsp;

Being smart and efficient about waste can help Starbucks direct less waste to landfills, says Pete Schultze, a district manager in the San Francisco Bay Area who has five Greener Stores in his portfolio. “Taking care of the environment and sustainability, it’s important to our partners,” he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Greener Stores feature a number of renewable energy projects such as <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/find-an-ev-charger-at-starbucks-stores-from-seattle-to-denver/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EV charging</a> and onsite solar that help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and improve local air quality.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Responsible Materials&nbsp;&nbsp;

Starbucks Greener Stores limit the use of volatile organic compounds, such as paints, coating, adhesives and sealants that can be harmful for the environment and degrade air quality. Other requirements mean mercury-free lighting installed in stores, which increases light quality and also helps eliminate harmful materials that could end up in landfills. &nbsp;

Starbucks is also starting work on an Embodied Carbon Initiative, which will measure, track and assess the lifetime carbon emissions necessary to build, transport and eventually dispose of all its equipment and building materials. The goal, says Jodie Clarke, senior project manager in Global Store Development, is to create new standards, influence more earth friendly practices throughout the supply chain and educate suppliers through a <a href="https://starbucksglobalacademy.com/greener-stores/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks Global Academy sustainability course</a>, that recently received positive recognition from the <a href="http://biden%20administration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden administration</a>. &nbsp;

One of the newly-certified international Greener Stores – <a href="https://historias.starbucks.com/en-es/stories/2022/top-5-things-to-see-at-starbucks-new-store-in-antigua-guatemala/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in Antigua, Guatemala</a> – is located inside a preserved and restored UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic, courtyard-style building uses local art, local furniture and local materials.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We refurbished what was already there. We didn’t pour new concrete. We didn’t buy new steel,” says Erica Saraff, senior project manager, Global Store Development-Sustainability. “It’s open-air, so no HVAC system, which is a huge source of electricity use. Using local supplies also means savings on transportation costs.” &nbsp;

“Everything that we’ve built into a Greener Store is a little step,” Saraff says. “When you’re talking about one dishwasher, or one recycling bin, or one light fixture, that’s small. But we have thousands of stores, and all those small things that you do - as a partner, as a customer - make an impact because of our scale. &nbsp;

“If we’re all doing something better, it becomes a much bigger better.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Starbucks is committed to certifying 10,000 Greener Stores around the world by 2025. Learn more about what makes a Greener Store.

What’s inside a Greener Store?

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New round of investments, part of collective private and public sector collaboration, is a major step to scale innovative solutions to advance water access and reduce waste sent to landfill&nbsp;

Ahead of its 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Starbucks announced over $50 million in planned investments to advance its ambitious target to cut its water and waste footprints in half by 2030.

“At Starbucks, it’s our role and responsibility to protect our planet and give back more than we take. These investments will help us make significant strides toward our sustainability commitments while building a business that scales for good and is driven by innovation,” said Starbucks executive vice president of global coffee, social impact and sustainability, Michelle Burns.

Driven by the passion of its partners, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/starbucks-expands-commitment-to-water-and-outlines-comprehensive-strategy/">Starbucks is committed to building a more equitable, resilient and sustainable</a> future for communities and the planet. This latest round of investments showcases the power of collective impact across sectors and Starbucks role as an industry-wide model for how thoughtful partnerships can drive environmental stewardship and long-term business goals.

Mexico: Subsidized water delivery allows Gloria and her husband to have regular access to affordable water for drinking, bathing, cleaning, and growing fresh food in their garden. (Photo credit: Water.org)

Building a Water Positive Future

At present, two billion people around the world are living in water-stressed areas. Investing in water and climate projects can be a solution for advancing equity and human rights, alleviating the impacts of climate change and securing resilient supply chains.

In support of our expanded water commitment of 50% of water withdrawal conserved or replenished across our direct operations, stores, packaging and agricultural supply chain by 2030, Starbucks has committed to prioritize action in high-risk basins through collective action and support watershed health, ecosystem resilience and water equity.

To achieve this target, Starbucks is leveraging its global reach and partnering with other leading companies who are members of the United Nations Water Resilience Coalition and the public sector to unlock critical capital for making progress against UN SDG 6. Starbucks <a href="https://unglobalcompact.org/news/5046-03-16-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced an initial anchor investment of up to $25 million into WaterEquity’s Global Access Fund IV</a> in partnership with other corporate peers and the United States International Development Finance Corporation. Through such an investment, Starbucks is helping lead the way in an innovative approach to water stewardship with the hope of catalyzing additional companies to invest in water action. Starbucks is exploring additional investments that would bring our total investment intended to advance water access, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to $50 million.

Starbucks recent investment with WaterEquity will support improvements in water access and quality for low-income populations in countries across South and Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America through microfinance loans for the purchase of WASH products and services such as household toilets, water filters and tap connections. Innovative investments like this build on The Starbucks Foundation’s long history of investments in WASH around the world and help meet the company’s new commitment to enhance WASH for 5 million people. The company is complementing its investments with ongoing programmatic work in high-risk basins with leading NGO partners including WWF, TNC, Water.org and WaterAid.

Brazil: Since getting access to safe water at home, Cirliane can spend her time baking cakes to sell rather than walk to collect water. (Photo credit: Water.org)

Investing in a Circular Economy

In another key step to reduce its environmental impact and bolster a more robust recycling industry, Starbucks <a href="https://www.closedlooppartners.com/global-corporations-join-brookfield-to-invest-nearly-a-billion-dollars-in-closed-loop-partners-operating-company-circular-services-the-leading-developer-of-circular-economy-infrastructure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced a $10 million investment in Circular Services</a> to reduce landfill waste and drive innovative efforts to shift towards a circular economy in the United States.

Circular Services is the largest privately held recycling company in the United States, and Starbucks investment will support their work helping U.S. municipalities and businesses reduce the amount of valuable recyclable material sent to landfill. Circular Services uses advanced technology to improve sortation, processing and reuse of valuable commodities, including consumer packaging, organics, textiles, electronics and more, for continual reuse in domestic supply chains.

This investment will not only bring recycling access to Starbucks stores, but also creates a partnership with leading waste industry stakeholders to collaborate on recycling solutions for packaging types with limited access to recycling programs such as Starbucks hot cup.

Sims Municipal Recycling (SMR), a Closed Loop Partners investment, produces hundreds of thousands of tons of recycled metals, plastics, paper and glass for sale to mills, smelters, refiners, re-claimers and secondary material processors. (Photo credit: Michael Anton | Sims Municipal Recycling)

“Now is the time for bold action to transform the recycling infrastructure in the U.S. Starbucks is excited to join with Microsoft, Nestle, PepsiCo, SK Group, Unilever, Brookfield and the Partnership Fund for New York City to help generate nearly a billion-dollar investment in Circular Services. This builds upon our long-standing work with Closed Loop Partners, whose NextGen Consortium has made significant strides in advancing sustainable packaging, including bringing hot cup recycling to more communities,” said Starbucks chief sustainability officer, Michael Kobori.

Starbucks investment is part of a collaborative collective including Microsoft, Nestlé, PepsiCo, SK Group, Unilever and Brookfield Renewable, all working to scale circular economy infrastructure with a goal of catalyzing further corporate capital and accelerating growth of innovative partners that will champion the circular economy of the future.

As we look to the future, we are challenging ourselves to think bigger and do much more in partnership with others to take care of the planet we share. With the help of our partners, customers, industry experts and advocates, we are innovating – testing, learning and scaling – new ways to help protect our planet.

Supporting Water Projects Worldwide&nbsp;

Starbucks is also investing RMB 3 million to initiate the Qiandao Lake water replenishment project, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, and with the support of the local government. Through this initiative, the company seeks to develop water replenishment into a viable and effective nature-based solution that complements existing water conservation efforts, with potential for adaptation to other critical water basins across China.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The project features two scientifically proven strategies for improving water quality, tailored to the unique characteristics of the local natural ecosystem including the promotion of sustainable agriculture to reduce soil erosion and surface runoff and wetlands restoration that naturally filters off pollutants while enhancing local biodiversity. Qiandao Lake supplies drinking water to approximately 10 million people across Zhejiang Province.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alsea Foundation, The Starbucks Foundation and World Vision announced a partnership with Planet Water Foundation to guarantee access to clean water for vulnerable communities with plans to install 25 water towers over the next five years. The initiative will guarantee access to clean and safe water for 45,000 people in various communities across Mexico and in markets where Alsea operates Starbucks stores.&nbsp;

“We believe that access to clean and safe water is a basic human right, which is why we have collaborated with Planet Water Foundation for more than 10 years, starting in Indonesia and recently expanding to Latin America,” said Alicia Vermaele, director of The Starbucks Foundation. “We are proud that this new initiative will accelerate access for communities in Mexico, Colombia and other places where there is insufficient access to clean water, with the help of our local Starbucks partners as volunteers, who know their communities best.”&nbsp;

Ahead of its 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Starbucks announced planned investments to advance its ambitious target to cut its water and waste footprints in half by 2030.

Starbucks Commits Over $50 Million to Sustainable Waste and Water Funds Toward a Resource-Positive Future

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The coffee you order helps support our commitment to farmers and their communities. From donating disease-resistant coffee trees to investing in sustainable agricultural practices and conserving water in coffee processing, we’re working to empower communities and improve livelihoods.

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The Starbucks approach to ethical sourcing

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A collage of three images: On the left, a closeup of a basket of red coffee cherries with people's hands picking them up. In the center, a male Starbucks barista handing a ceramic cup of coffee to a customer. On the right, a female coffee farmer in Brazil standing in a field of coffee trees wearing a hat and red plaid shirt.

From donating disease-resistant coffee trees to investing in sustainable agricultural practices, we’re working to empower communities.

Uplifting communities with every cup

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From donating disease-resistant coffee trees to investing in sustainable agricultural practices and conserving water in coffee processing, we’re working to empower communities and improve livelihoods.

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Latest test at the Starbucks Community Store inside Kraken Community Iceplex continues long tradition of advancing sustainability in our hometown &nbsp;

At Starbucks, it is our environmental promise to give more than we take. That is why we are making it easier for our customers to use reusable cups and reduce waste sent to landfill from our stores. Today in the US and Canada, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2024/starbucks-becomes-first-national-coffee-retailer-to-accept-reusable-cups-for-drive-thru-and-mobile-orders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">customers can bring their own personal</a> reusable cup no matter how they order, and we continue to test how to provide a returnable cup experience we can scale. &nbsp;

Many of our most innovative sustainable packaging tests start right in our company’s hometown in Seattle, Washington, thanks to innovative partnerships with local organizations &nbsp;who share our visionto better the planet. The city is where we <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/starbucks-greener-cup-timeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first offered</a> a personal cup discount, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/starbucks-greener-cup-timeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trialed</a> our strawless lid, and hosted one of the first <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/seattle-starbucks-stores-go-even-greener-this-earth-month-with-new-borrow-a-cup-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reusable cup tests</a> in partnership with Ridwell.&nbsp;

Returnable Cups at Kraken Community Iceplex&nbsp;

Starting June 24, the Starbucks Community Store inside the Kraken Community Iceplex (KCI) in Seattle, is serving every beverage, hot and cold, in a returnable cup as part of our latest reusables test. Customers can enjoy their drink and deposit it in return bins located around the facility to be professionally washed and used again. In addition, customers can bring their own clean, personal cup to receive a $0.10 discount and 25 Bonus Stars for Starbucks Rewards members or opt for a ceramic or glass For Here Cup if they are enjoying their beverage in the cafe.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“First and foremost, we are a people company serving coffee, and supporting the community means protecting the planet we all share. We are excited to partner with KCI and invite local community members to experience our unique returnable cup program,” said Michael Kobori. “As we continue to test and learn, our future vision is to bring this reusables model to similar store environments where customers remain nearby while drinking their beverage including universities, hospitals, airports, and more.” &nbsp;

This latest test is just another way Starbucks and KCI are partnering together to make a positive impact on the community and the planet, building on their support for nonprofit programs that advance equity for youth in sports, focus on local hiring and work with neighborhood artists. &nbsp;

The SODO 8 Returnable Cup Program&nbsp;&nbsp;

Our SODO 8 store inside the Starbucks Support Center office headquarters in Seattle has been providing customers with a returnable cup for every order since early 2022. By default, drinks are provided in returnable cups with return bins located around the office building and kitchens. Customers can bring their own personal cup, too.&nbsp;

How does the returnable cup program work?

These reusable cups are suitable for both hot and cold drinks, and are available in Tall, Grande and Venti sizes. These cups are also 100% recyclable .&nbsp;&nbsp;

When will returnable cups be available across the country? &nbsp;

We’re working together with our partners to develop a returnable cup experience we can scale, learning from returnable cup tests in over 25 markets around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;

We anticipate the tests to be a permanent feature at the SODO 8 store and Kraken Community IcePlex &nbsp;Community Store. &nbsp;

What are you learning from the tests?&nbsp;&nbsp;

For every test, we gather feedback from store partners (employees) about how well returnable cups fit into existing operations. Each test is intentionally different (even the name!) to help us find the best possible operational model globally.&nbsp;

We are also eager to learn about customer habits and opinions about the cup itself, such as: How quickly are they returned? Do customers rinse the cups prior to return? Do they enjoy drinking from the cup? We are also testing the impact on operations of retaining an external company to sanitize the cups offsite.&nbsp;&nbsp;

How are the cups cleaned? &nbsp;

Once the cups are returned to the store, they are commercially washed and sanitized to Starbucks high standards. They are then visually inspected for a final check.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Can customers use returnable cups at stores that are not participating in a test? &nbsp;

Customers who are choosing to sit and stay in the cafe can ask their barista for a For Here Cup, a ceramic or glass cup that will be washed and used again. Customers in the US and Canada can also order with a clean, personal cup in our cafés and receive a $0.10 discount on their beverage, and Starbucks Rewards members in the US will receive 25 Bonus Stars.&nbsp;

<a href="http://find%20out%20more/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find out more</a> about our reusables efforts and commitments to cut our carbon, water and waste footprints in half by 2030.

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