In this article:
- Starbucks unveiled the latest steps it’s taking to reduce its disposable cup use.
- By the end of 2023, customers will be able to use their own reusable cups at every Starbucks store in the US and Canada.
Starbucks is stepping up its sustainability efforts in a major way.
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In an attempt to reduce landfill waste, the company will be phasing out its single-use cups in favor of reusable mugs. “The single-use cup is 20% of our waste footprint globally, but more than that, it is an icon,” said Michael Kobori, Starbucks chief sustainability officer. “This is Starbucks’ icon all around the world, and if we can replace this disposable cup, this symbol of waste, with this reusable, we completely change people’s mindset.”
The coffee chain unveiled the latest steps it’s taking to reduce its disposable cup use. Those include more than 20 different iterations of tests across eight markets to figure out the best ways to get rid of the single-use cup.
By the end of 2023, customers will be able to use their own reusable cups in the United States and Canada, even if they order ahead via the Starbucks app or use the drive-thru.
Starbucks is also planning to try out new cup-washing stations in cafes in O’ahu, Hawaii, and on Arizona State University’s campus, where customers will be able to have their personal cups cleaned before ordering their beverages.
Store locations in Japan, Singapore, and London are testing a “borrow-a-cup” program – in which customers order drinks in cups that are meant to be returned to Starbucks, professionally cleaned and reused by other customers. Each buyer provides a $1 deposit, which is returned when they give back the cup.
The company’s goal is to cut its waste and carbon emissions from direct operations in half by 2030, as it aims to become “resource positive” one day.
Becoming “resource positive”, Starbucks knows, is the only option for every future-focused marketer. The verdict is in: customers prefer eco-friendly brands. If a brand wants to nurture customer loyalty, it must provide sustainable products, services, and packaging. Even if it means getting rid of an iconic, disposable package.