Starbucks Adopts Sustainability Agenda
The CEO of the global coffee company’s announces a five-point strategy to accomplish reducing its carbon emissions, water use and waste
By Bill Conroy January 21, 2020
Starbucks just ordered up an extra jolt of environmental expresso by announcing a multi-decade plan to become a “resource-positive” company, including setting targets for the reduction of carbon emissions, water use and waste by 2030.
The plan, announced by Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Kevin Johnson in a public letter to shareholders, customers and partners, is based on a five-point strategy.
1. Expanding plant-based options and shifting to a more environmentally friendly menu.
2. Shifting to reusable packaging.
3. Investing in innovative and sustainable practices in its supply chain.
4. Investing in better waste-management practices.
5. Developing more eco-friendly stores, operations, delivery and manufacturing options.
“As we approach the 50th anniversary of Starbucks in 2021, we are looking ahead with a heightened sense of urgency and conviction that we must challenge ourselves, think bigger and do much more in partnership with others to take care of the planet we share,” Johnson says. “By embracing a longer-term economic, equitable and planetary value for our company, we will create greater value for all stakeholders.”
The specific goals set for 2030 include reducing carbon emissions in the company’s direct operations and supply chain by 50%; conserving or replenishing 50% of the water used in direct operations and coffee production, with a focus on communities with high water risk; and reducing waste sent to landfills from stores and manufacturing by 50%.
“This puts Starbucks in the vanguard of corporate sustainability leaders, and we hope more businesses will be inspired to develop similarly robust approaches to addressing the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges,” says Mark Lee, executive director of SustainAbility, a think tank and advisory firm focused on helping businesses advance a more sustainable economy.
This article was originally published on Seattle Business magazine’s website.
Follow Us
82 Million Tons of E-Waste by 2030. Now What?
Smart ways to handle old electronics after a holiday upgrade.
Every holiday season, our houses fill with upgraded gadgets and the promise that we’ll deal with the old stuff later. Meanwhile, the drawer of mystery cords multiplies, and some items just get tossed out. Most of us mean well, but those castoff electronics often end up somewhere they really shouldn’t. And with about 59% of…
Going to the Mountains This Winter? Read This.
A new online tool breaks down avalanche basics for anyone planning snowy fun off the beaten path.
I’m a rule follower when it comes to the outdoors. This summer, my family did some backcountry hiking in Whistler and made sure to do everything by the book—texting friends our plan and location, and wearing a bear bell even though it felt a little dorky. It’s reassuring to know you’ve covered the basics before…
Historic Flooding Prompts WA Governor to Declare Emergency
Rivers are surging around the state amid days of heavy rainfall.
As floodwaters swelled around Washington, threatening low-lying communities along rivers, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a statewide emergency declaration on Wednesday. Ferguson says he’ll also seek an expedited emergency declaration from the federal government in response to the flooding, which is the result of an atmospheric river that has dumped multiple inches of rain in parts…
Barnes & Noble Is Coming Back to Downtown Seattle
The bookseller will open a new flagship at 520 Pike, marking the largest retail lease in downtown Seattle since 2020.
Barnes & Noble is returning to downtown Seattle for the first time since early 2020. The national bookseller has signed a 10-year lease for a new flagship at 520 Pike Street, a 29-story tower, taking over 17,538 square feet on the corner of Pike and 6th Avenue. The store is expected to open in the…