In a public letter to all company stakeholders, chief executive officer Kevin Johnson sets 2030 science-based targets for carbon, water and waste as part of multi-decade aspiration

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SEATTLE – Today in <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/message-from-starbucks-ceo-kevin-johnson-starbucks-new-sustainability-commitment">a public letter</a> citing the company’s enduring mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit, Starbucks chief executive officer Kevin Johnson announced a multi-decade commitment to be a resource-positive company, aspiring to give more than it takes from the planet. The announcement included science-based preliminary targets for the reduction of carbon emissions, water use and waste by 2030, and outlined five strategies the company has identified to move toward them.

“As we approach the 50th anniversary of&nbsp;Starbucks in 2021, we&nbsp;are looking ahead with a heightened sense of urgency and&nbsp;conviction&nbsp;that we must challenge ourselves, think bigger and do much more in partnership with others to take care of the planet we share,” Johnson said.

The company’s aspiration&nbsp;is to become resource positive – storing more carbon than it emits, eliminating waste, and providing&nbsp;more clean, freshwater than it uses. “This aspiration is grounded in Starbucks mission,” Johnson said. “By embracing&nbsp;a longer-term economic, equitable and planetary value for our company, we will create greater value for all stakeholders.”

A comprehensive, data-driven environmental footprint of carbon emissions, water use and waste in Starbucks global operations and supply chain informed the five strategies to prioritize work: 

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Johnson also outlined three preliminary targets for 2030: 

On Starbucks 50th&nbsp;anniversary in 2021, the company will formalize its 2030 environmental goals based on learnings&nbsp;between now and then. Specifically, Johnson noted, the coming year will involve comprehensive market research and trials to better understand consumer behavior and incentives to encourage more use of reusable containers.

Johnson noted the importance of Starbucks partnerships with others on its journey to be a more sustainable company. Advisors to the company have provided the following comments:

Sheila Bonini, Senior Vice President, Private Sector Engagement, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), said: “As the global climate crisis is fueling a new set of challenges for the planet, Starbucks has set an ambitious vision to give more than they take from our planet’s finite natural resources. This is exactly the kind of leadership we need to see from businesses—an opportunity to invest in their own future while making their global customer base a partner in this sustainability journey.”

William McDonough, CEO, McDonough Innovation, said: “I am inspired by Starbucks <a>resource positive goals</a> because commerce is the engine of change and these goals allow us, with constant humility, to create authentic Environmental, Social and Governance value.&nbsp; These goals also encourage us to innovate toward the dream of Cradle to Cradle: A delightfully diverse, safe, healthy and just world, with clean air, water, soil and power – economically, equitably, ecologically and elegantly enjoyed.&nbsp; Imagine…have a cup of coffee and the world gets a little bit better.”

Sander Defruyt, Lead of the New Plastics Economy initiative at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment unites businesses, governments and others behind a clear vision for a world where plastic never becomes waste or pollution, and the ambitious targets required to achieve it. Creating this circular economy for plastic will be a challenging journey, but by signing the Global Commitment, Starbucks is joining forces with more than 450 signatories to make it possible. We urge others to join them. By coming together, we can eliminate the plastics we don’t need and innovate, so the plastics we do need can be safely and easily circulated, keeping them in the economy and out of the environment.”

Mark Lee, Executive Director, SustainAbility, said: “It is encouraging to see Starbucks embrace a data-driven&nbsp;and team-driven approach to creating a resource positive future. Given their proven ability to tap into the passion and expertise of their partners around the globe, I am confident that they will succeed and that this will have a huge impact. Starbucks sustainability commitment is deeply embedded in their enterprise-wide strategies and in the hearts and minds of their leaders. Their most senior leadership was directly involved in the creation of this plan, and they did an outstanding job convening experts in the field in the course of its development, inviting them to help Starbucks dream big on what's possible for the planet. This puts Starbucks in the vanguard of corporate sustainability leaders, and we hope more businesses will be inspired to develop similarly robust approaches to addressing the world's most pressing sustainability challenges."

Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO, Conservation International, said: “This pledge to become ‘resource positive’ is bold and necessary – exactly what I’ve come to expect from Starbucks. For more than two decades, Conservation International has partnered with Starbucks to source coffee in ways that are good for people and the planet. Today, 99 percent of Starbucks coffee is verified as ethically sourced – but we have not rested. Now we are working to bring the entire coffee sector along to make coffee the world’s first sustainable agricultural product. This is what it will take to meet today’s challenges: bold vision paired with action that does not rest.”

Conrad MacKerron, Senior Vice President, As You Sow, said: “As You Sow and Trillium Asset Management applaud Starbucks commitment to undertake extensive research and testing on consumer behavior and ways to dramatically increase utilization of reusable beverage containers, and to set a new reusables goal within one year.&nbsp; Socially conscious shareholders hope the commitment to reduce waste sent to landfill with be a catalyst for new programs on reuse, recycling, and compostability in fast-growing developing markets.”

Ray Silverstein, vp of Store Development at Starbucks and the sponsor of Partners for Sustainability, said: “Starbucks commitment to sustainability has been a meaningful way for our partners to engage and support their communities and neighborhoods. &nbsp;With today’s announcement, we are even more energized to have science-based strategies to guide us in setting priorities and accelerating this work. &nbsp;Whether it’s reducing our environmental footprint in our stores, in our supply chain, or through our ability to engage our communities -- we will have new ways to focus our efforts to make the greatest impact.”

Starbucks invites others to learn more by visiting <a href="http://stories.starbucks.com/stories/sustainability">http://stories.starbucks.com/stories/sustainability</a>, and to follow the journey by texting “GREEN” to 73356. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to 73356 to opt out and discontinue further participation. Text HELP for more information. By opting in, you agree to receive messages from Starbucks, which may be sent through an automated dialing system. Consent is not required to purchase. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://Starbucks.com">Starbucks.com</a>&nbsp;to read our Privacy Statement. Additional info:&nbsp;<a href="http://sbux.co/terms">http://sbux.co/terms</a>

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Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations, including statements about executing our strategy, driving growth and building shareholder value. Such forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations and satisfactions of certain conditions that are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including market conditions and those risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section of the Starbucks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018. The Company assumes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

Starbucks Commits to a Resource-Positive Future - Starbucks Stories

Stories to inspire and nurture the human spirit

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Starbucks Commits to a Resource-Positive Future

The company’s aspiration is to become resource positive – storing more carbon than it emits, eliminating waste, and providing more clean, freshwater than it uses.

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Today, Starbucks&nbsp;chief executive officer Kevin Johnson unveiled a multi-decade aspiration to be a resource-positive company,&nbsp;giving more than it takes from the planet. The announcement included science-based preliminary target reductions of carbon, water and waste&nbsp;by 2030, and outlined five strategies the company has identified to move toward them.&nbsp;

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Interior of Starbucks store with "living wall" foliage in shape of map of the world

Starbucks announces multi-decade aspiration to become resource positive - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks announces multi-decade aspiration to become resource positive

The announcement included science-based preliminary target reductions of carbon, water and waste by 2030, and outlined five strategies the company has identified to move toward them.

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Today in <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2020/message-from-starbucks-ceo-kevin-johnson-starbucks-new-sustainability-commitment">a public letter</a> citing the company’s enduring mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit, Starbucks chief executive officer Kevin Johnson announced a multi-decade commitment to be a resource-positive company, aspiring to give more than it takes from the planet.

The announcement included science-based preliminary targets for the reduction of carbon emissions, water use and waste by 2030, and outlined five strategies the company has identified to move toward them. 

https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2021/09/Starbucks-Sustainability-Commitment-Infographic.pdf

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Infographic: Starbucks Sustainability Commitment - Starbucks Stories

Infographic: Starbucks Sustainability Commitment

Starbucks ceo Kevin Johnson announced a multi-decade commitment to be a resource-positive company, aspiring to give more than it takes from the planet.

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Sustainability is core to who we are at Starbucks. Over the years, with the help of our partners, customers, industry experts and advocates, we’ve looked for ways to help protect our planet, including ethically sourcing our coffee, developing a Greener Store Framework, making investments in renewable energy and championing a more sustainable cup. We recently announced a new sustainability commitment to be resource positive, including preliminary goals of reducing carbon, water and waste 50 percent by 2030.

To learn more, read on for an&nbsp;at-a-glance look at Starbucks sustainability milestones, with the latest updates <a href="#2022">here</a>.

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Opens its first store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, selling whole bean coffee, tea and spices.

Begins its first test of a coffeehouse concept, serving to-go beverages in paper cups.

Unveils Starbucks Mission Statement: “To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow.” 

Establishes environmental mission statement, committing to “a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business.” 

Rolls out <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-coffee-grounds-for-the-garden/">Grounds for Your Garden</a> program in U.S. and Canada.

Establishes a relationship with the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund to explore ways to reduce the environmental impact of its cups.

Introduces soymilk, Starbucks first non-dairy milk alternative. 

Develops a cup sleeve made from recycled content to help eliminate the practice of double-cupping.

Establishes The Starbucks Foundation, whose mission is to strengthen communities around the world by creating opportunities for populations that face barriers, advancing sustainability initiatives and promoting civic engagement. 

Forms partnership with Conservation International&nbsp;to create Starbucks first ethical sourcing program.

Issues its first <a href="https://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/global-report">Corporate Social Responsibility Report</a>.

Introduces ethical coffee-sourcing guidelines developed in partnership with Conservation International.

Partners with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to develop the LEED for Retail program.

Launches <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/cafe-practices-starbucks-approach-to-ethically-sourcing-coffee/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) Practices</a> with Conservation International, with SCS Global Services overseeing the verification system of suppliers.

Opens first <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-farmer-support-centers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Farmer Support Center </a>opens in Costa Rica. Since then, eight other centers have opened around the world to support coffee farmers with climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Publicly reports its first inventory of greenhouse gas emissions.

Makes its first renewable energy purchase, equivalent to 5 percent of U.S. stores' electricity consumption. 

Designs and builds its first LEED certified store in Hillsboro, Ore.

Quadruples renewable energy purchases to equal 20 percent and begins buying renewable energy certificates (RECs) in partnership with World Resources Institute’s Green Power Market Development Group. Designated as one of the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/documents/2006awards.pdf">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partner of the Year</a>.

Launches the retail industry’s first hot beverage paper cup with 10 percent post-consumer recycled fiber (PCF).

Announces Shared Planet commitments, including goals to ethically source 100 percent of its coffee, build LEED-certified company-operated stores and cover 100 percent of U.S. store operations with renewable energy. Implements global LED lighting conversion program.

Commits $20 million to a variety of farmer loan funds, providing coffee farmers access to capital to cover expenses during the growing and harvesting cycles and make strategic investments in their farms. 

Partners with Conservation International to launch climate change campaign and five-year global commitment to support farming communities and encourage the protection of their land, water and forests.

Introduces a new polypropylene plastic cup that uses 15 percent less plastic than previous cups and emits 45 percent less greenhouse gas during production.

Hosts first Cup Summit in Seattle, inviting local governments, cup manufacturers, recyclers and stakeholders to find a comprehensive recyclable cup solution.

Opens Farmer Support Center in Kigali, Rwanda.

Unveils new, locally relevant design strategy to reduce environmental impact and incorporate reused and recycled elements. Starbucks becomes one of the first retailers to join USGBC’s LEED Volume Certification pilot program.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2009/starbucks-opens-leed-certified-coffee-roasting-plant/">Opens LEED-certified roasting plant</a> in Sandy Run, S.C.

Hosts second Cup Summit in Boston and announces Paper Recovery Alliance with the Foodservice Packaging Institute.

Opens Farmer Support Center in Mbeya, Tanzania.

Rolls out <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/earthsleeve-global-rollout/">cup sleeves</a> made from less paper and more post-consumer content, saving nearly 100,000 trees each year.

Starbucks Mexico opens its <a href="https://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/store-design/chalpultepec-reforma">first LEED® certified store</a> and achieves the Silver certification level, making it the first LEED® Silver store in Latin America.

Opens its first <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2013/innovative-new-drive-thrus/">store made from reclaimed end-of-life shipping containers</a>. Starbucks would go on to open more than 45 of these modular stores in the United States, and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-opens-first-container-store-in-taiwan/">more around the world</a>.

Opens <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-farmer-support-centers/">Farmer Support Centers</a> in Manizales, Colombia and Yunnan, China.

Purchases Hacienda Alsacia, its first 240-hectare coffee farm in Costa Rica, to serve as a global agronomy Research and Development facility and working farm. 

Offers a $1 reusable cup in the U.S. and Canada, and a £1 cup in the United Kingdom to help reduce cup waste.

Offers environmentally friendly napkins in stores in Japan made from 70 percent post-consumer recycled milk-carton fiber and 30 percent FSC®-certified paper.

Opens 500th LEED®-certified store, more than any other retailer in the world.

<a href="https://news.starbucks.com/news/recycling-in-one-of-the-worlds-largest-coffee-roasting-plants">York Roasting Plant</a> in York, Penn. achieves 100% zero waste certification.

Joins Conservation International and other industry leaders as a founding partner to launch the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/making-coffee-the-worlds-first-sustainably-sourced-agriculture-product/">Sustainable Coffee Challenge</a>, an effort to make coffee the world’s first sustainable agricultural product.

Launches <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2016/one-bag-for-every-tree-10-million-trees-milestone/">One Tree for Every Bag</a> program, which provides more than 25 million rust-resistant coffee trees to farmers whose farms are affected by coffee rust. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Purchases enough renewable energy to power 100% of its company-operated stores in the U.S., Canada and UK. 

Reaches <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-ethical-sourcing-program/">99 percent ethically sourced</a> coffee milestone with Conservation International.

Achieves its 25 percent water reduction target through global water conservation measures.

Announces additional commitment of $30 million as part of its <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-more-than-doubles-global-farmer-loan-commitment/">Global Farmer Fund</a> program, which supports coffee farmers in improving the infrastructure on their farms and replacing older coffee trees with new ones.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/coconut-milk-available-in-u-s-starbucks-stores-beginning-february-17/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Introduces coconutmilk,</a> a non-dairy milk alternative.

Completes global rollout of <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/earthsleeve-global-rollout/">new cup sleeves</a>, which are made from less paper and more post-consumer fiber.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2016/almondmilk-coming-to-starbucks-stores/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Introduces almondmilk</a>, a non-dairy milk alternative.

Issues its first <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2016/starbucks-issues-the-first-u-s-corporate-sustainability-bond/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Corporate Sustainability Bond</a> in the United States.

Reaches milestone of <a href="https://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-opens-1000th-leed-certified-store">1,000 LEED-certified stores</a> in 20 countries, including the historic Starbucks Roastery in Seattle.

Opens Farmers Support Center in Chiapas, Mexico. 

Partners with Feeding America to launch its <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2016/starbucks-food-donation-program/">FoodShare food donation program</a> with a goal to rescue 100 percent of food available to donate from U.S. stores. &nbsp;

Launches <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-partners-for-sustainability/">Greener Apron program</a> for partners to become certified in environmental sustainability.

Announces commitment to provide <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2017/starbucks-100million-coffee-trees/">100 million climate-resilient coffee trees</a> to farmers by 2025.

Issues its <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2016/starbucks-issues-the-first-u-s-corporate-sustainability-bond/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">second Sustainability Bond</a>, this time in Japan.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2017/starbucks-uk-to-tackle-food-waste-with-charity-partner-action-against-hunge/">Expands food waste initiatives across EMEA</a>.

Eliminates straws in all Starbucks stores in Korea through strawless lids and paper straw alternatives.

Achieves 98 percent recycling of coffee grounds in Korea.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2018/starbucks-rolls-out-5p-paper-cup-charge-to-all-stores-across-britain/">Rolls out 5p paper cup charge</a> in Starbucks stores across Britain, with proceeds dedicated to efforts to reduce plastic pollution across the U.K.

Achieves 100 percent zero waste certification at the Starbucks roasting plant in Carson Valley, Nev.

Opens Hacienda Alsacia Visitor Center to welcome visitors from around the world to experience Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia coffee farm, a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/starbucks-farm-research-and-innovation/">hub for coffee research and innovation</a>.

Invests in <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/solar-and-wind-power-fuel-starbucks-store/">North Carolina solar farm</a> to power 600 Starbucks stores in North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., as well solar farms in <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/starbucks-and-cypress-creek-solar-farms-team-up-to-power-360-stores-in-texas/">Texas</a>, providing enough energy for the equivalent of 360 Starbucks stores across the state.

Develops Greener Stores framework in partnership with SCS Global Services and World Wildlife Fund to design, build and operate <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-announces-global-greener-stores-commitment/">10,000 Greener Stores</a> globally by 2025.

Starbucks Sustainability Timeline - Starbucks Stories

A historical look at Starbucks sustainability efforts since the company began in 1971.

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Starbucks Sustainability Timeline

The journey a coffee bean follows from farm to cup is an arduous one. It usually begins high in the hills of the Coffee Belt, a band that wraps around the Earth’s middle between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Bucket by bucket, the beans are hand-picked and processed before trundling down winding roads to cargo ships destined for roasting plants and cafés around the world. 

To get the best beans, buyers from Starbucks have traveled to the source since the first store opened back in 1971. They journeyed to far-flung farms in places in Latin America, Asia and East Africa, taking time to get to know farmers and their communities along the way.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

When Starbucks launched its C.A.F.E. Practices sustainable sourcing program in 2004, the company knew that building on these personal relationships would be critical to the program’s success. It opened its first <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-farmer-support-centers/">Farmer Support Center</a> that same year in San José, Costa Rica, and hired a team of agronomists to bring farmers into the program.

Carlos Mario Rodriguez, director and global head of coffee research and development for Starbucks, was part of that first Farmer Support Center agronomy team. He drove his pickup truck over countless miles of narrow roads to visit farmers and help them with a range of sustainability issues and ensure a long-term supply of quality coffee. He helped them set up their own test plots, showed them how to space trees correctly and offered suggestions to manage erosion and reduce the use of pesticides.&nbsp; 

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William Chacon, owner of the Café Las Peñas farm in Sabanilla, Costa Rica, has been working with Starbucks agronomists for more than 10 years, even when his farm is not selling to Starbucks. 

“There are many problems related to deforestation, and the coffee gets damaged by disease, and so the quality suffers too,” said Chacon. “With Starbucks help, we are producing new varieties of coffee. The quality is good because the leaves and the plants grow healthy.” 

In the Farmer Support Center's first year of operation, 43.5 million pounds of green (unroasted) coffee were purchased from C.A.F.E. Practices-approved suppliers, representing 14.5 percent of total coffee purchases. In the 15 years that followed, purchases under the program continued to grow and Starbucks expanded its global network of farmer support. A satellite location in Guatemala City opened in 2006, followed by Rwanda in 2009, Tanzania in 2011 and Colombia in 2012. Field by field, farm by farm – this new approach to sustainable sourcing was taking root.

In 2012, Starbucks opened its sixth Farmer Support Center, and first in Asia, in Yunnan, China’s Pu’er region. Alan Tong was the first agronomist at the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2017/yunnan-single-origin-coffee/">China Farmer Support Center</a>, starting with just 25 coffee growers.

Since then, he and his team have trained nearly 10,000 farmers in China in sustainable farming practices and 1,200 farms are now verified through C.A.F.E. Practices. They are also putting resources toward <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-deepens-its-commitment-in-yunnan-communities/">creating pathways out of poverty in coffee farming communities</a> across the region.

After opening two more Farmer Support Centers in Ethiopia (2014) and Indonesia (2015), Starbucks’ oldest Farmer Support Center also became its newest. In 2016 the San José agronomy center moved from its downtown office building to a farm 15 miles up a mountain road to the foot of the Poàs Volcano. The 600-acre working farm and visitor’s center at <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/coffee-sustainability/">Hacienda Alsacia</a> serves as Starbucks global agronomy research and development center.

“I can show [farmers] how we have been doing things,” said Victor Trejos, general manager of Hacienda Alsacia. “How we have been planting, how we fertilize, soil tests … and how they can do the same.” 

The farm includes 14 hectares dedicated to research. It’s a testing ground to push the boundaries of agronomy research to breed trees that are resistant to coffee leaf rust, or roya, which is ravaging coffee crops in Latin America. The team also analyzes soil, fine tunes pruning techniques, and supports farmers in other ways to increase coffee trees’ quality and productivity. Its findings aren’t kept in a company vault; they are shared freely with researchers and farmers everywhere.

Starbucks opened its tenth Farmer Support Center in <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/starbucks-opens-farmer-support-center-in-brazil-for-coffee-growing/">Brazil</a> in August 2021.&nbsp;To date, Starbucks has trained&nbsp;more than 200,000 farmers providing free access to education and resources through its Farmer Support Centers. Its aspiration is to&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/making-coffee-the-worlds-first-sustainably-sourced-agriculture-product/">make coffee the world’s first sustainably sourced agricultural product</a>.

But for Rodriguez, the accomplishment is best measured one farm, one farmer at a time.

“To me, as a professional, as a partner, it’s the best part really when you start working with a particular farmer and see that they are improving their living conditions and being able to keep producing coffee as a good business,” he said. “That’s the best. It’s really something that motivates us.” 

Farmer Support Centers help ensure coffee's future, farm by farm - Starbucks Stories

Farmer Support Centers help ensure coffee&#8217;s future, farm by farm

How Starbucks provide farmers across the globe free access to education and resources.

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Farmer Support Centers help ensure coffee’s future, farm by farm

Centered on Sustainability

This page shows data from our 2018 Report. For the most up-to-date goals and progress, see our <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/starbucks-global-environmental-and-social-impact-report-2021/">2021 Global Environmental &amp; Social Impact Report</a>.

Our 2018 Global Social Impact Report reflects our aspirations and marks our progress as a company in the areas where we can make the biggest impact – leading in sustainability, strengthening communities and creating opportunities. 

The Pursuit of Doing Good

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<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Policy Statements and Previous Year Reports (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/global-report" target="_blank">Policy Statements and Previous Reports</a>

2018 Starbucks Global Social Impact Report - Starbucks Stories

2018 Starbucks Global Social Impact Report

Our 2018 Global Social Impact Report reflects our aspirations and marks our progress as a company in the areas where we can make the biggest impact.

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Our vision is simple: to produce sustainable coffee, served sustainably. For more than two decades, Starbucks has partnered with Conservation International on C.A.F.E. Practices, our ethical coffee sourcing program. We now source 99 percent of our coffee this way,&nbsp;promoting quality, economic transparency and social and environmental impact with a vision to make coffee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sustaincoffee.org/">the world’s first sustainable agricultural product in the world</a>.

Climate change represents significant immediate and long-term risks to coffee farmers around the world, and we are taking steps to help ensure the supply of high-quality coffee for future generations. Core to ensuring the long-term sustainability of coffee is also ensuring&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-commits-20-million-for-emergency-relief-to-farmers/">the economic profitability for farmers</a>. We are investing in innovation to offer farmers new&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2017/starbucks-hacienda-alsacia/">climate-resilient coffee tree varietals</a> and support coffee-farming communities through our&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-more-than-doubles-global-farmer-loan-commitment/">Global Farmer Fund</a> to make sure farmers have access to low-interest financing that will help them reinvest in their farms. We continue to&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-farmer-support-centers/">share what we have learned</a> with others through agronomy training for farmers, whether they sell to us or not. We are also supporting women and families in coffee- and tea-growing communities through&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/the-starbucks-foundations-origin-grants-to-empower-women-and-girls/">Starbucks Foundation Origin Grants</a> that are focused on strengthening their leadership skills and&nbsp;income-generating activities to diversify their income.

We’re also working toward a goal of 100 percent ethically sourced tea and cocoa for beverages by 2020. We are investing in sustainability, issuing our&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/starbucks-completes-issuance-of-third-and-largest-sustainability-bond/">third sustainability bond</a> in May 2019 for investors to participate in socially and environmentally focused projects and leveraging&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/knowledge-is-valuable-coffee-journey-going-digital-for-customers-farmers/">new technology</a> to bring real-time digital traceability to our coffee supply chain.

There is perhaps nothing more recognizable for the Starbucks brand than our cup. Yet our cups and packaging remain one of our biggest environmental challenges.&nbsp;We are looking for new ways to promote reusable cups and better manage the lifecycles of disposable ones. We are testing a variety of greener cups that are both recyclable and compostable in&nbsp;select cities through the&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/closed-loop-partners-announces-12-winners-of-the-nextgen-cup-challenge/">NextGen Cup Challenge</a> and are&nbsp;launching a lightweight strawless lid with a hope to&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/say-hello-to-the-lid-that-will-replace-a-billion-straws-a-year/">eliminate 1 billion single-use plastic straws</a> annually.

Over the past decade we have struggled with our goal to significantly increase the use of reusable cups in our stores. We are continuing to test new ideas and approaches to the challenge. In the UK we conducted a trial of a&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/london-stores-cup/">5-pence disposable cup fee and a 25-pence reusable cup incentive</a>, which increased reusable cup usage for hot drinks sold in stores nationwide from 2.2 to 5.8 percent.

We know that designing and building green stores is not only environmentally responsible, it is good business. We already operate more than 1,600&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2016/starbucks-opens-1000th-leed-certified-store/">LEED certified stores</a> around the world, making us the world’s largest green retailer. We are building on that legacy by developing a new Greener Store framework for&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-announces-global-greener-stores-commitment/">10,000 stores globally by 2025</a>, which could save $50 million in utilities costs over the next 10 years.&nbsp;And we’re empowering our partners to help us in that effort by offering sustainability certification through our&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-partners-for-sustainability/">Greener Apron</a> program.

Over the past two years, Starbucks has committed to more than $140 million in renewable energy to power our stores, reducing our environmental impact and supporting access to green power. It’s enough to power 100 percent of our more than 9,000 company-operated stores in the United States, and 77 percent of our global operations.&nbsp;

We plan to locally source more than 50 percent of our renewable energy in the U.S by 2020, including from our&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/solar-and-wind-power-fuel-starbucks-store/">new solar farm in North Carolina</a>, which delivers enough clean energy to power the equivalent of the energy consumed by 600 Starbucks stores. And we are partnering with developers to bring new projects online, including a wind farm planned near Olympia, Wash., and a new wind farm in Illinois that will power 360 stores in that state, including the future Chicago Roastery.

Goal: 100% ethically sourced coffee For the fourth year in a row, more than 99% of our coffee was verified as ethically sourced under&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2017/sustainability-is-at-the-heart-of-starbucks-coffee-sourcing/">C.A.F.E. Practices</a> – that’s nearly 650 million pounds of it. Although we are constantly striving for 100%, it’s that last 1% where some of our most important work happens, bringing on new farmers and cooperatives to help ensure the long-term future of coffee.

Goal: 100% ethically sourced tea by 2020 Our tea is verified as 95% ethically sourced by third-party organizations including the Ethical Tea Partnership and Rainforest Alliance to ensure the tea Starbucks sources is produced with sustainable practices and under safe and humane working conditions.

Goal: Provide 100 million trees to farmers by 2025 Starbucks has donated more than 31 million coffee trees over the past three years (9.4 million in 2018) to farmers in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. These&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2017/the-next-generation-of-coffee-trees/">climate-resilient trees</a> replace ones that are declining in productivity due to age and disease, such as coffee leaf rust.

Goal: Invest $50 million in farmers loans by 2020 In 2018, loans reached thousands of farmers in 14 countries to strengthen their coffee farms through tree renovation and infrastructure improvements.

Goal: Train 200,000 coffee farmers by 2020 Our expert agronomists have provided free training to 52,240 coffee farmers through our nine&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-farmer-support-centers/">farmer support centers</a> in coffee-producing countries around the world in the past two years, including 27,938 in 2018. We will explore new ways to further scale our efforts.

Goal: Develop 100% compostable and reusable cups by 2022 We are currently testing a dozen promising cup technologies developed through the&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/closed-loop-partners-announces-12-winners-of-the-nextgen-cup-challenge/">NextGen Cup Challenge</a> with the goal of creating an entirely recyclable and compostable cup.

Goal: Double the recycled content of our cups by 2022 Our hot cups currently contain 10% post-consumer fiber (PCF) and we are working to double the recycled content.

Goal: Eliminate single-use straws worldwide by 2020 Since we announced our intention to eliminate single use-straws in July 2018, we developed and engineered&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/say-hello-to-the-lid-that-will-replace-a-billion-straws-a-year/">a new strawlesslid</a> that eliminates the need for a plastic straw and reduces the amount of plastic by 9% versus the traditional lid and straw.&nbsp;We have launched this strawless lid as the default for all iced beverages in Seattle and Vancouver, with&nbsp;sevenmore major markets planned for summer 2019.&nbsp;

*Estimated reduction once fully implemented

10+ Major Cities Currently Recycle our Cups

Goal: Double the recyclability of our cups by 2022 Our cups are accepted for recycling in: Amsterdam; Boston; Dallas; Denver; London; Louisville, Ky.; New York City; San Francisco; Seattle; Washington, D.C.; and Vancouver, B.C.

Goal: Double the use of reusable cups by 2022 In 2018, 1.3% of customers in company-operated stores in the U.S., Canada and EMEA received a discount for bringing their own mug or tumbler, saving more than 42 million disposable cups. We are working to find new ways to encourage customer adoption of reusables, and to begin to track for-here beverages in our reporting.

Goal: Build and operate 10,000 greener stores globally by 2025 Starbucks has 1,612 LEED-certified stores in 16 countries, including all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.&nbsp;We are also developing a new open-source framework to ensure that all Starbucks stores are delivering high standards of environmental performance.

This year, we will launch the Greener Store framework in 300 stores and will be verifying that these stores are: •&nbsp; 100% powered by renewable energy •&nbsp; 25% more energy efficient •&nbsp; 30% more water efficient •&nbsp; Recycling and diverting waste •&nbsp; Sourcing responsible materials •&nbsp; Delivering a healthy environment •&nbsp; Empowering partners to be sustainability champions

Goal: Invest in 100% renewable energy to power operations globally by 2020 Starbucks purchases enough renewable energy to power 100% of its more than 9,000 company-operated stores in the U.S., Canada and the UK with clean energy. Worldwide, more than three-quarters of Starbucks operations are powered by renewables.

Goal: Empower 10,000 partners worldwide to be sustainability champions by 2020 More than 7,200 Starbucks partners have enrolled in the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-partners-for-sustainability/">Greener Apron</a> sustainability training program through the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.starbucksglobalacademy.com/">Starbucks Global Academy</a> with Arizona State University in the United States, Canada and Britain.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/2018-starbucks-global-social-impact-report/">2018 Global Social Impact Report</a>

2018 Report: Leading in Sustainability - Starbucks Stories

We are committed to 100 percent ethically sourced coffee and reducing the environmental impact of our operations with greener stores, power, cups and packaging.

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2018 Report: Leading in Sustainability

Leading in Sustainability

After 135 Starbucks partners submitted ideas on how to create greener stores, five were chosen to present to a panel of judges at the company’s new Tryer Center. The results? You may see some of them implemented at a store near you, part of ceo Kevin Johnson’s philosophy of taking an idea to action in 100 days.

On a recent afternoon, Ayako Wilson was standing next to a wooden pergola that hadn’t existed until the day before, in a center for innovation that hadn’t been built until a few months before, under a prototype for a solar panel that wasn’t real but could be, touting an idea that could change the future. 

And she was wearing really big sunglasses. 

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Wilson was standing before a panel of judges in Starbucks’ Greener Stores Innovation Challenge – judges with the power to green-light – and fund -- partners’ ideas to help make Starbucks a more sustainable company.

Her proposal? Solar panels installed on the roofs of Starbucks to power the stores. “I was inspired by how farmers use solar panels in Japan,” said Wilson, a native of Japan and a Starbucks store manager in Burbank, Calif. 

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