Starbucks and Sustainability

Recently, I have picked up an interest in coffee. I can’t go to school without it, and it is essentially a big part of my everyday routine. As a 16-year-old, this does not sound like the smartest idea—drinking coffee every day—but it is something that keeps me going throughout the day. Because coffee has become such a regular part of my life, I started paying more attention to where it comes from and the companies behind it. One of the most well-known coffee companies in the world is Starbucks, which serves millions of customers daily. This made me curious about how Starbucks operates as a business and, more specifically, how it addresses environmental sustainability. This case study examines Starbucks’ green business efforts while also identifying areas where the company could potentially improve.

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Company Background

Starbucks is a global coffee company founded in 1971 and is known for its large international presence and strong brand identity. Because of its scale, Starbucks has a significant environmental footprint, especially related to coffee sourcing, packaging, energy use, and waste. In response, the company publishes an annual Global Impact Report that outlines its environmental, social, and ethical commitments. Starbucks positions itself as a leader in sustainable business practices within the food and beverage industry.

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Green Business Efforts at Starbucks

One of Starbucks’ strongest green business efforts is its focus on ethical and sustainable coffee sourcing. Nearly all of Starbucks’ arabica coffee is sourced through its Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices program, which promotes environmentally responsible farming, fair labor conditions, and economic transparency. By supporting farmers and encouraging sustainable agricultural methods, Starbucks helps reduce deforestation and improve long-term farm resilience.

Starbucks has also invested heavily in climate-resilient agriculture. The company has distributed millions of climate-tolerant coffee trees to farmers, helping them adapt to changing weather patterns caused by climate change. This effort supports both environmental sustainability and the long-term stability of the global coffee supply.

Another major sustainability initiative is Starbucks’ focus on waste reduction. The company allows customers to bring personal reusable cups for nearly all orders, including drive-through and mobile purchases. This policy is designed to reduce the massive amount of single-use cup waste generated by the coffee industry. Starbucks has also worked on improving packaging materials and increasing recycling access in its stores.

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Areas for Potential Improvement

Despite these efforts, Starbucks still faces challenges in fully achieving its environmental goals. One major issue is the continued reliance on single-use cups. While reusable cup programs exist, most customers still use disposable cups due to convenience, limited incentives, or lack of awareness. Starbucks could improve by offering stronger rewards or discounts to encourage reusable cup usage.

Additionally, while Starbucks has made commitments to reduce carbon emissions, its overall environmental footprint remains large due to global expansion, transportation emissions, and energy use in stores. The company could further invest in renewable energy, energy-efficient store designs, and more localized supply chains to reduce emissions.

Finally, transparency and measurable progress remain areas for improvement. While Starbucks publishes sustainability reports, some goals have progressed slower than expected. Setting clearer short-term targets and regularly updating consumers on progress could improve accountability and trust.

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Conclusion

Starbucks plays a major role in the everyday lives of many people, including students like me who rely on coffee as part of their daily routine. Because of its size and influence, Starbucks has the ability to make a meaningful impact through green business practices. The company has taken important steps in ethical sourcing, climate-resilient farming, and waste reduction. However, there is still room for improvement, especially in reducing single-use waste, lowering carbon emissions, and increasing consumer participation in sustainability initiatives. Overall, Starbucks serves as a strong example of how large corporations can move toward sustainability while also highlighting how much work still needs to be done.

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