QSR July 2023

SHORT ORDER

In January 2020, Starbucks announced a major sustainability goal to reduce its carbon, water, and waste footprints in half by 2030 using science based targets. The company believes embracing this longer-term mission creates the greatest value for all stakeholders. That announcement three years

REDUCING IMPACT

ago was paired with five strategic priorities—expanding plant-based options; shifting from single-use to reusable packaging; investing in innovative agricultural practices, reforestation, conservation, and water replenishment; finding better ways to manage waste; and developing more eco-friendly stores.

Certification of more than 3,500 Greener Stores • Co-developed with the World Wildlife Fund, Greener Stores are lower-impact restaurants engaging in renewable energy, waste diversion, energy efficiency, water stewardship, and employee engagement. • Starbucks set a goal to reach 10,000 Greener Stores worldwide by 2025, and it’s one-third of the way there. The coffee chain is the world’s largest retail builder of shops certified by Leadership in Energy and Environ mental Design ( LEED ), a green build ing rating program. • In April, 88 Greener Stores were certified in 18 additional markets, like Argentina, Vietnam, and the U.K. QUOTE TO KNOW: “Most of them look no different from any other Starbucks store,” said Grace Yoo, Starbucks Greener Stores global program manager, in a state ment. “But there are Greener Stores quietly opening and operating all throughout the world, with unglamor ous details like energy-efficient dish washers, water-saving faucets, and carefully thought-out waste diversion signage to help do our part in mitigat ing the effects of climate change.” In April, Starbucks revealed two major milestones along this sustainable journey:

Reusables Pilot • As part of the program, customers ordered their beverages and let the barista know they brought their own cups. With every personal cup, guests saved 10 cents and Starbucks Rewards mem bers received an additional 25 bonus stars. • The pilot ran in 192 participating shops throughout Colorado from April 10 to June 30. • By the start of 2024, Starbucks wants custom ers to be able to use their personal reusable cups for every store visit in the U.S. and Canada. • This is one of a few methods the brand has tested: Borrow a Cup— Customers order their drinks in designated Starbucks reusable cups and return them to a store. This has been tested in the U.S. and internationally. 100 percent Reusable Operating Models— In this example, single-use cups are eliminated in favor of reusable cups or for-here-ware (mugs, glass cups, etc.). One Test in Jeju, South Korea, diverted about 200,000 disposable cups from landfills within three months.

QUOTE TO KNOW: “We set a bold aspiration to become a resource-positive company—to store more carbon than we emit, to eliminate waste, and to conserve and replen ish more freshwater than we use. This aspiration included setting ambitious 2030 targets to cut our carbon, water, and waste footprints in half,” said chief sustainability officer Michael Kobori in a statement. “Innovation is how we will build our next chapter, advance our planet-positive impact, and boldly reimag ine our future together.”

STARBUCKS (4), CONNOR SURDI (3), TOP; WOMAN WITH REUSEABLE CUP: NICHOLAS MATTHEWS PHOTOGRAPHY, ECO ENVIRONMENT EARTH ICON: ADOBE STOCK / YURII

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JULY 2023 | QSR | www.qsrmagazine.com