Starbucks, more than just a pricey cup of coffee.

Cup Changes Count!

As a fan of Starbucks, and somewhat aware of their eco-friendly stance, I wanted to route around to see what exactly Starbucks' role is in environmental efforts. Not knowing much about their efforts, I was pleasantly surprised at how far Starbucks goes to be a good guy in environmental improvement.

The main premise of Starbucks' efforts revolves around Shared Planet. What is Starbucks Shared Planet? Their neat tag line for Shared Planet is 'You and Starbucks. It's bigger than coffee.' Along with their quirky embellishments on cups, creative media throughout their business, they prove through Shared Planet, just how unique and environment conscious they are. Shared Planet is described as-

'It's our commitment to doing business in ways that are good to the earth and to each other. From the way we buy our coffee, to minimizing our environmental footprint, to being involved in local communities. It’s doing things the way we always have. And it's using our size for good. And because you support us, Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ is what you are a part of too.'

Starbucks pairs with non-government run organizations for their Shared Planet program. Two groups worked with are Conservation International and the Earthwatch Institute. Their website explains the roles of these partners. They're doing something good for the environment and bonus, they work well in groups!!!

What ways does Starbucks excel in being earth friendly? When visiting their site, http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/csr.asp, several of their efforts are mentioned. Some of them are-

• Planet Green Game involves Global Green USA and the link to this from the Starbucks page explains how individuals, school boards, etc can reduce energy consumption.
• Planet Green Game area also has a test to calculate your carbon footprint.
• Earth day events link for the public to participate.
• Free coffee grounds available- appropriate uses for grounds in your garden, compost and worm bins-directions for grounds use.

Cup efforts

• Take The Mug Pledge- encourages using personal travel mugs for beverages opposed to paper ones. Customers get a 0.10 cent discount on drink purchases if they bring theirs in.
• In 2006, they had the first hot drink cups to be made with 10% post-consumer fiber paper.
• Using the recycled paper for cups, Starbucks saved 200,000 trees since 2006.
• By 2015 they hope to have 100% of their cups either reusable or recyclable.

Ethical Sourcing

By 2015, Starbucks would like to have 100% of their coffee to be responsibly grown and ethically traded. Their relationship with Conservation International incorporates partnerships with farmers to get them on board using sustainable farming techniques. They've created a 'coffee-buying guideline' which morphed into 120 standards including-

• quality of coffee
• environmental practices
• social/economic standards
• 'price transparency for farmers'

One way Starbucks reaches out to farmers and continues to follow their 'coffee-buying guidelines' is-

'One way we build the supply of coffee produced under Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ guidelines is to work directly with farmers in coffee-growing communities. In 2004, we opened a Farmer Support Center in Costa Rica. The FSC directly helps farmers grow better coffee using more sustainable methods so they can earn better prices. Soon, we’ll open FSCs in Ethiopia and Rwanda.'

Starbucks has been recognized for their environmental consciousness by the following according to http://www.friendsofeco.com/starbucks.html

• The 2005 National Recycling Coalition Recycling Works Award, for making significant commitments to recycling as a national advocate and leader
• The World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for Sustainable Development, for the development of Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices, a set of socially and environmentally responsible coffee-buying guidelines developed jointly by Starbucks and Conservation International
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Environment Green Power Purchasing Leadership Award, for purchasing wind power for corporate facilities in California and Minnesota, bringing the corporate power load covered by renewable energy to five percent

In my opinion, the best part of Starbucks efforts is their constant acknowledgment that they can do more. They are relentless in their pursuit to make their company accountable and continue future changes. One last quote from their site demonstrates this.

'We constantly look for ways to use less energy, water and other resources. We’re upgrading existing stores to use 25% less energy, and we plan to incorporate recycled and salvaged materials when it’s time to upgrade them.'

After digging into their company's efforts, it becomes very visible how much they strive to be earth friendly. Although I liked their coffee before, (it can't be my favorite because I'll never betray my beloved Tim Horton's!) I think learning more about them made me appreciate and even take the sting out of paying over three dollars for a cup of coffee. Their prices may never change, but as a customer you know their company is ever changing and fresh, like you hope the coffee is!