Comments on: a good green Starbucks

By: UCLAx class 2 « threadpost

UCLAx class 2 « threadpost — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:09:37 +0000

[...] be in. To be fair, Starbucks is experimenting with new locally focused concepts – discussed here. Of course, consistent brand message and experience is absolutely vital to retailers operating so [...]

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:03:18 +0000

Hi, gr8 post thanks for posting. Information is useful!

By: admin

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:59:55 +0000

Here’s some additional follow up:

In an article published on GreenBiz.com, there appears to be movement by Starbucks to figure out what to do with their cups. They’ve started a pilot program at seven stores in NYC to recycle cups. According to the article, “three billion Starbucks coffee cups end up in landfills every year, in large part because they can’t be composted or recycled in most communities because of a thin polyethylene plastic coating that prevents liquid leakage.”

The unfortunate news in the article is that even if they work out a plan, it may not go into full effect until 2012. Why would it take so long?

Here’s a link to the article – http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/09/15/pilot-program-test-recyclability-starbucks-coffee-cups

By: admin

admin — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:01:04 +0000

Hi Elizah,

You make some great points. I too would be much happier if they figured out a way to recycle their cups and sleeves. I don’t have the figures, but I image the amount of waste created by those is incredible. Have you ever seen the coffee shop Eni Ani in NYC done by Lewis.Tsurumanki.Lewis? It’s an interesting look at using waste material related to coffee as raw building material. I too would like to see reductions and changes in packaging that are more environmentally favorable. From what I’ve read, they and other manufacturers are working to find a way to keep the product fresh without having to sell it in something composed of a monstrous hybrid. At the very least they could team up with a company like Terracycle to start a return program that repurposes old bags to some other useful product. However, I think it’s inevitable that chains like Starbucks will continue to build new stores (it’s in their DNA), so better that they build more responsibly. Thanks, KO

By: Elizah Leigh

Elizah Leigh — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:36:12 +0000

I appreciate the direction that Starbucks is attempting to go in I applaud their use of sustainable building materials but, seriously…do we really need more of their stores hawking overpriced coffee in this economy? I’d be far more impressed if they instead channeled their green efforts into revamping their entire packaging line…no more foil/mylar bags for their coffee would be a great start. There is so much waste that occurs on a daily basis in operations like Starbucks and they’d be sending a very powerful message to corporations across the world by fundamentally changing the composition of the containers and other accoutrements of their daily biz over to truly eco-friendly versions. Even mandatory recycling right on sight (for all customers to see and participate in) would be a step in the right direction).