Do You Believe Starbucks?

I wrote Starbucks last week to ask why they don’t use plastic in the #1 or #2 recycling categories seeing as they are recycable in every state, as opposed to the #6 they use now, recycled nearly nowhere. Here’s the response I received:

Hello Alison,

Thank you for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company with your questions regarding our recycling efforts.

 

Starbucks is committed to protecting and improving the environment, and is continually pursuing opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle our waste products where commercial facilities exist. Most of our retail store recycling is conducted “behind the scenes” in the back room (boxes, milk jugs, etc.). If you are not certain that recycling is taking place in a store, please ask a store manager; he/she can explain what we are doing, what is recyclable in the local area, and what the landlord will allow for waste disposal. One of our challenges is that some parts of the country can process more recyclable materials than others. We are working with a recycling subcontractor to locate local recycling facilities to process materials generated from each store.

In addition to our retail stores, recycling programs exist in our other facilities, including Starbucks Support Center, our global headquarters in Seattle, and our roasting plants in Kent, Washington; York, Pennsylvania; and Carson Valley, Nevada. Additionally, we considerrecyclability , reusability and recycled content in our paper and packaging purchases to reduce our impact on the environment. Last year, Starbucks paper products contained 26% post consumer recycled content. We have targeted 30% post-consumer content for all future paper purchases.

On the waste reduction side, we are focused on encouraging reuse of coffee grounds by packaging them and giving them to customers to use as a soil amendment in their gardens. We also offer customers a 10¢ discount each time they use their commuter mug to enjoy their Starbucks beverage. Last year, our customers used their own mugs 13.5 million times, which prevented 586,800 pounds of paper waste from reaching landfills. Reusing coffee grounds and the commuter mug discount complement our recycling efforts because they help to minimize the amount of waste that is produced in each store.

 

Please know that we appreciate your comments and that we take our responsibility to the environment very seriously. Your concerns will be forwarded to our utility specialist, who manages in-store recycling for North America. If you have additional questions or comments, please contact us at info@starbucks.com or call 1-800-235-2883 to speak directly with a customer relations representative.

Thank you again for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company.

Sincerely,

Stephan C.

Customer Relations Representative

If you would like to share your thoughts about your experience with Starbucks Customer Contact Center, please click on the link below to participate in a short survey. Your comments will be used to ensure that any future experiences with Starbucks Customer Contact Center meet your highest expectations.

http://www.starbuckscontactcenter.com/star_ccc_index.asp?group=CR&template=CR062

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Well then, did anyone find out the answer to my question from that? I, for one, must have missed it because I am still in the dark. Shouldn’t a company so hell-bent on being Earth-friendly use as much cost-efficient, recyclable/biodegradable products as possible? Especially with something as easy as a cup top. Feel free to go back in my archive to take a look at my entries on recycling, seeing as there are cheap ways to be greener.

 

I urge everyone to write to your favorite companies and restaurants that continue to use Styrofoam and non-recyclable take-out containers and the like. The more complaints/suggestions given, the more likely change will take place.

 

~ by peacewriter313 on February 24, 2008.