Starbucks aims to reduce plastic waste with its latest cold drink cups designed to use 20% less plastic, set to be available in U.S. and Canada stores starting this month.
Dee-Ann Durbin reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Amelia Landers, Starbucks’ VP of Product Innovation, highlights four years of development and testing to ensure the new cups feel sturdy while using less material.
- The redesigned cups feature unique tactile indicators for easier handling by baristas, including those with impaired vision, and share lids across multiple sizes to reduce production needs.
- Starbucks continues to push for sustainability, planning a reusable cup program in multiple regions and aiming for all packaging to be eco-friendly by 2030.
Key quote:
“There is no one silver bullet to a sustainable cup.”
— Amelia Landers, VP of product innovation at Starbucks
Why this matters:
While the move doesn't eliminate the company's single-use plastic problem, it reduces Starbuck's environmental footprint and encourages other companies to follow suit. This latest shift could reduce landfill waste and the energy used in plastic production, which in turn could help mitigate climate change and pollution.
Read our 2022 piece: Starbucks will eliminate all PFAS in its packaging.
