Starbucks Coffee: How Green Is Their Java?

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starbucks coffeeStarbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) is given credit by many for revolutionizing the American coffee drinking experience. The company however is both praised and criticized by environmentalists. Is Starbucks a leader of sustainability or greenwashed?

Disposable Cups

Starbucks stores use billions of cups annually. This requires enormous quantities of natural resources and energy before finding their way to landfills. Starbucks does however use cups that contain 10% post consumer recycled content.

Although this might sound like a meager quantity, Starbucks has helped shape the industry. This 10% achievement required authorization and testing by the Food and Drug Administration and had not been permitted previously.

“Starbucks should be commended for its ground-breaking efforts of working toward environmentally friendly packaging options that benefit both forests and the businesses that rely on them,” said David Ford, president and CEO of Metafore, a nonprofit group that collaborates with leaders in business and society to create innovative, market-based approaches that support forests and communities. “As a participant in our Paper Working Group project, Starbucks leadership in responsible purchasing of forest products gives other companies a clear path to follow.”

Starbucks also plans to reintroduce ceramic mugs and increase use of reusable mugs tenfold by 2010. They currently offer a $.10 discount for reusable mugs.

fair trade coffeeImpacts of Growing Coffee

Most Starbucks stores are located in areas where coffee is not cultivated. Coffee must be transported thousands of miles and is often grown in sensitive ecosystems. This inherently isn’t sustainable.

Starbucks however partnered with Conservation International to create Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices (C.A.F.E. Practices), a set of environmentally, economically, and socially responsible coffee purchasing guidelines.

Starbucks purchased 65% of its coffee under these guidelines in fiscal year 2007. On the global market, Starbucks is a relatively small player with around 1% of the global coffee market, yet they have found a way to leverage their might and influence the coffee industry.

Locally Owned Coffee Shops

It would seem that Starbucks would have a very negative impact on local Ma and Pa coffee shops, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Some cafes report soaring sales when a Starbucks moved in by attracting coffee drinkers to frequent the neighborhood.local cafe

Others unfortunately have been the victims of a predatory store placement strategy. Cafes that were behind on their rent had their leases revoked to make way for a new Starbucks. It seems the impacts of Starbucks on local competition must be taken on a case by case bases, helping some while hurting others.

Resource Consumption at Stores

Starbucks has been under strong criticism recently because of wasteful water practices. Water is run continuously on dipper wells, which are used to wash utensils. This adds up to an estimated 6.2 million gallons of water wasted each day.

On the bright side, Starbucks recently announced a goal to reduce energy use by 25% and purchase enough renewable energy credits for 50% of their energy needs by 2010. They are working with the U.S. Green Building Council to create a prototype for a LEED silver certified store that can be duplicated across its portfolio.

Employee Relations

Starbucks ranked #7 in Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2008. Noteworthy practices by Starbucks include health insurance to part-time employees and domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples.

Does Starbucks Measure Up?

Starbucks is frequently targeted by environmentalists for unsustainable practices, but do they deserve this? The nature of the coffee industry is unsustainable in many ways, but Starbucks has helped lead the industry towards greener practices. I would like to see Dunkin’ Donuts ditch styrofoam and Nestle forgo genetically engineered coffee beans. Although there is certainly room for improvement, other companies have barely gotten started.

14 thoughts on “Starbucks Coffee: How Green Is Their Java?”

  1. Thank you for a great post. I love the tone that the author takes – yes, Starbucks is doing some things; but they can do better. I agree, we can all do better. Whenever you go out for your next cup of coffee, at Starbucks or anywhere, take your own mug. It is a great and simple concept.

  2. Thank you for a great post. I love the tone that the author takes – yes, Starbucks is doing some things; but they can do better. I agree, we can all do better. Whenever you go out for your next cup of coffee, at Starbucks or anywhere, take your own mug. It is a great and simple concept.

  3. You think Starbucks is a green coffeeshop? Not even close.. I work for Bridgehead Coffeehouse (chain of coffeeshops actively competing with Starbucks in Ottawa Canada) They are FAR more “green”..

    All Fairtrade certified products (ensures a fair price for low-income farmers)

    Shade-grown and Organic Coffee

    http://www.bridgehead.ca

  4. You think Starbucks is a green coffeeshop? Not even close.. I work for Bridgehead Coffeehouse (chain of coffeeshops actively competing with Starbucks in Ottawa Canada) They are FAR more “green”..

    All Fairtrade certified products (ensures a fair price for low-income farmers)

    Shade-grown and Organic Coffee

    http://www.bridgehead.ca

  5. The LEED silver building is interesting as it is a significant expense to get certified. I think anything they do to push sustainability up and down the supply chain, and change their consumer’s behavior should be positively reinforced so these types of things continue to happen.

  6. The LEED silver building is interesting as it is a significant expense to get certified. I think anything they do to push sustainability up and down the supply chain, and change their consumer’s behavior should be positively reinforced so these types of things continue to happen.

  7. I agree totally with you. I have worked for Starbucks for 2 years; they are making great efforts to clean up their act, but compared to my personal habits, I think they can do a lot better. However, I understand all the hoops, being a huge corporation, they have to jump through to get things passed and moving. P.S. because of hours being cut, health care is having more restrictions placed on it, and not as many people are going to be able to receive it as easily.

  8. I agree totally with you. I have worked for Starbucks for 2 years; they are making great efforts to clean up their act, but compared to my personal habits, I think they can do a lot better. However, I understand all the hoops, being a huge corporation, they have to jump through to get things passed and moving. P.S. because of hours being cut, health care is having more restrictions placed on it, and not as many people are going to be able to receive it as easily.

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