Starbucks Vows to Use 100% Recyclable Cups

Starbucks recently announced its renewed commitment to 13 eco-friendly initiatives as part of its Shared Planet™ program. The coffee giant promised to achieve these goals by 2015, some of which include:

• Making 100 percent of Starbucks cups to be reusable or recyclable.
• Increasing in-store recycling.
• “Greening” all new, company-owned stores by 2010.
• Responsibly growing and ethically trading 100 percent of the company’s coffee (up from the current 65 percent).
• Contributing more than one million community service hours annually in communities where the company does business.

Starbucks also vows to reduce its global impact by conserving water and energy and promoting forest conservation.

“While these goals are aspirational,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company, “we have set substantive measurements that will challenge us to be a better company. During this time of economic uncertainty we realize that we have the opportunity and the responsibility to keep our focus on our commitment to keep our communities strong…”

Starbucks is already supporting other green programs in its stores, such as a 10-cent discount on all purchases when reusable mugs are used by customers.