The sales of cold beverages at Starbucks have been increasing significantly, causing a new issue to arise. The use of single-use cups for popular drinks like Frappuccinos, Refreshers, cold brews, and other iced beverages is leading to a rise in plastic waste.
The popular coffee chain announced that it has addressed the issue of waste by introducing new disposable cups that use 20% less plastic. These cups will gradually be introduced in stores across the United States and Canada, starting this month.
According to Amelia Landers, who holds the position of vice president of product innovation at Starbucks, the company based in Seattle has been devoted to creating the new containers for the past four years. Extensive testing by engineers has been conducted to determine the optimal amount of plastic that can be eliminated without compromising the durability of the cup.
According to Landers, the product is considered to be a top performer in the industry and is the ultimate representation of a cold plastic cup.
Starbucks has reported sales of cold drinks, including Frappuccinos, make up 75% of the company’s beverage sales in the U.S., which is a significant increase from 37% in 2013. The company predicts that the implementation of new cups will prevent over 13.5 million pounds of plastic from ending up in landfills annually. Additionally, the production of these tumblers is more environmentally friendly, using less water and producing fewer carbon emissions, which contributes to mitigating climate change, a major global issue.
As part of the revamped design, Starbucks also implemented other modifications. The latest cold cups now have raised dots at the bottom, allowing baristas to easily determine the cup size with a simple swipe of their thumb. Additionally, the 12-ounce cup, referred to as “tall” in Starbucks terminology, has been made shorter and wider to fit the same lid as the bigger cups.
According to Landers, Starbucks is making a continuous effort towards sustainability with the introduction of their new cups. In 2019, the company made the switch to strawless lids. They also announced last year that they will now allow customers to bring in their own cups for drive-thru and mobile orders in both the U.S. and Canada.
By next year, the company aims to introduce a reusable cup initiative in numerous locations throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This program will require customers to pay a small deposit when purchasing a hot or cold beverage in a specially designed cup that can be utilized for up to 30 times. Upon returning the cup to a store, customers will receive a refund of their deposit.
In addition, Starbucks has experimented with reusable cup programs in various locations across the United States, such as California, Arizona, and Colorado.
According to Landers, each market presents its own set of obstacles, specific needs, and consumer patterns. While some markets are highly suitable for reusable items, others may not be as accommodating. Therefore, there is no single solution that can solve the issue of sustainability when it comes to cups.
In the future, Starbucks has expressed its desire to have all of its packaging be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030. The newly introduced reduced-plastic cup is a small move towards achieving this objective. While their new cup is technically recyclable, it was initially designed for single-use.
According to her, the corporation will continue to investigate methods for increasing the sustainability of disposable cups.
Starbucks is not the sole company reconsidering the use of plastic packaging, as seen in the adjustments made by McDonald’s in certain regions. For example, they have started offering McFlurry cups without plastic lids, as well as salad boxes and cutlery made from sustainable fiber. Similarly, Coca-Cola announced in late 2020 that they have successfully created a bottle using only plant-based materials.
