Landfills Coffee Cups

Tell Starbucks To Switch To Recyclable Cups In 2009

Danny Jensen | 4 months ago | Comments (2)
tompagenets Flickr photostream

tompagenet's Flickr photostream

Starbucks plans to switch to 100% recyclable or reusable cups by 2015, and while the goal is admirable, the timeline is too long, so it's time we tell Starbucks to make the change by the end of 2009.  Starbucks has taken some significant steps to reduce their environmental impact in recent years, including tackling climate change, conserving resources, and building LEED-certified stores, and while I may not be crazy about them popping up on every corner, I'm encouraged by their efforts to create a more sustainable coffee industry.

What I'm not thrilled about is that 2.3 billion non-recyclable paper Starbucks cups head to landfills each year, and even though eco-friendly cup options are available today and are used by some competitors, Starbucks seems to think we can wait six years for a greener alternative.  If Starbucks is serious about their commitment to environmental stewardship, they should prove it to us by making the switch to recyclable or compostable cups sooner.  More