Starbucks Leads the Way in Environmental Sustainability
As the world rallies behind the call for environmental consciousness, Starbucks emerges as a formidable leader in the pursuit of sustainability. In this article, we delve into Starbucks' multifaceted strategy for tackling plastic waste, its substantial investment in water equity, and its significant contribution to the advancement of circular waste management.
Reducing Single-Use Plastics & Packaging Waste
Starbucks aims to cut waste sent to landfills by 50% from its stores through innovative strategies like the "Borrow A Cup" program in Taiwan, promoting reusable cup use. This sustainable approach is soon extending to U.S. stores.
Water Investment Fund with WaterEquity
Starbucks has initiated an anchor investment of up to $25 million into WaterEquity's Global Access Fund IV. This substantial investment will bolster water access and quality for underprivileged communities across regions in South and Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.
$10M Waste Investment in Closed Loop Circular Services Waste Hauling
Starbucks' $10 million investment in Circular Services is a major environmental step. This recycling company, the nation's largest, will enhance in-store recycling and collaborate on solutions for hard-to-recycle items like Starbucks' hot cups.
Summary
Starbucks aims to give back more to the planet than it consumes and reduce its climate, water, and waste footprints by 50% before 2030, based on a FY19 baseline. Its goals are in harmony with the United Nations' Water Resilience Coalition (WRC) and Transform to Net Zero (TONZ) initiatives, which are driving a global transition to a net-zero economy by 2050.
Written by: Vessi
Peer Reviews: Zhixuan, Talia Zhuang
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Reference:
https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2023/06/Starbucks-2022-Global-Environmental-and-Social-Impact-Report.pdf
https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/starbucks-greener-stores-accelerate-global-movement-towards-a-more-sustainable-future/
https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/planet/
https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2021/starbucks-greener-stores-accelerate-global-movement-towards-a-more-sustainable-future/