It’s 6 pm on a Wednesday during finals week and I find myself taking a well-deserved study break by walking to my nearest Starbucks to treat myself to a well-deserved iced coffee. What could be more motivating than a justified six-dollar cup of coffee, right?? Yet if this cup of coffee is so well-deserved and pivotal for my academic success, why does a wave of guilt suddenly creep up on me while I’m scanning my QR code at the register?
Beyond the steep price tag, for those of us who are aware of the magnitude of the climate crisis and the grave problem of plastic pollution, indulging in a Starbucks drink can come with some serious guilt. Personally, I found myself falling into a pattern of justification for my Starbucks purchases in an attempt to curb the guilt that I would feel. While I could’ve brought my own reusable cup, this simply wouldn’t have had the same effect as my typical Starbucks trip. Typically, many of my Starbucks trips have been spontaneous and I did not think to bring a cup with me.
Although I am aware that my reasons for neglecting to bring my own cup are irrational, there is evidence to demonstrate that I may not be the only one in this position. According to 2021 Global Environmental and Social Impact Report, “less than 1% of beverages sold were in reusable cups” in FY21. Starbucks claimed that they were continuing market research to discover how they could increase the use of reusable cups, however, there is little evidence of any significant progress over the years.
As far as major food and beverage corporations go, Starbucks’ commitment to sustainability is still ahead in many ways. In the same 2021 report, Starbucks shared its goal of becoming “resource positive,” meaning that it will “give more than we take from the planet.” This ambitious objective has a series of long-term goals that seek to reduce carbon emissions, water usage, and waste. The report also proposes actions that Starbucks intends to undertake in the next few years in order to reach its goals.
So What Does Starbucks Promise to Change?
While the report demonstrates Starbucks’ dedication to sustainability and appears to be promising, I am still hesitant about the validity of its claims. After reading their plans and comments, I find Starbucks’ response to the issue of reducing plastic waste most concerning. A CNBC article about Starbucks’ plans for eliminating plastic waste cites Michael Kobori, the corporation’s chief sustainability officer, who states that “disposable cups and lids make up 40% of the company’s packaging waste.” It is clear that this is a serious issue for Starbucks and that the company is aware of the problem. Although the report acknowledged the issue, no truly effective solutions were proposed. Rather, the report emphasizes their continued market research on reusable cups, their plans to launch a hot cup made from 20% recycled content, and their goal to develop a 100% compostable and recyclable hot cup by 2022.
The BIG Gap’s in Starbucks’ 2021 Report
These statements are problematic for a number of reasons. For one, developing a product that is 100% recyclable still raises a ton of new challenges. The recyclability of the cup would depend on both the consumer and whether the recycling location accepts that type of plastic. Regardless, the odds of the cup being recycled are grim, as a Greenpeace USA report found that “the U.S. plastic recycling rate was estimated to have declined to about 5–6% in 2021.” For another, the report does not address how they plan to curb plastic waste with their iced drink cups. Finally, it’s now 2023 and we are still to hear about major updates–where’s our new hot cup, Starbs??
Although many people view their individual Starbucks purchases as innocent, the real problem is that individual purchases result in approximately 7 billion disposable cups used each year around the globe (CNBC). The magnitude of the plastic problem is becoming incomprehensible as the numbers significantly increase each year. Corporations such as Starbucks must be held accountable for their actions and must take the necessary steps to lead both their customers and other companies to a truly more sustainable future.
Urgent Need for Innovative Solutions
While I appreciate Starbucks’ initiative and the message they have sent through the 2021 report, it is clear that they have not yet found adequate solutions for plastic waste. As a customer who loves Starbucks and the planet, I hope to see some drastic changes take place within the next few years. From my own experience and observations, customers want to preserve certain elements in their experiences such as convenience and speed. Additionally, customers are committed to the iconic Starbucks cup and don’t want to let it go. Therefore, I speculate that a successful reusable cup would need to maintain the current design, shape, and feel in order to please customers. Further, employees would have to be on board and could potentially ask each customer if they brought their own cup in order to normalize the practice. Perhaps Starbucks should consider creating reusable cups similar to the ones used at the Chicago Starbucks Reserve (see image to the right).
Despite the commitments made by Starbucks in its 2021 report, I will abstain from regular Starbucks purchases and will instead opt for more sustainable options (more about it in my upcoming post). However, I am confident that with some innovation, Starbucks is capable of finding solutions that truly address the use of disposable plastic. What does the Starbucks experience look like to you? Is it the beverage, the cup, or a combination of both?
