SEATTLE, USA – With spring upon us, gardeners can give their plants and flowers some extra TLC this season thanks to a program available at Starbucks all year long and join the company in its pursuit to give back more than it takes from the planet. Starbucks serves freshly brewed coffee to millions of customers each day, but many may not know they can also pick up a free bag of recycled coffee grounds to enrich their gardens and compost with its in-store program, Grounds For Your Garden, available at participating stores.
What is Grounds For Your Garden?
In its 29 years, Grounds for Your Garden has become an important part of Starbucks promise to give more than we take from the planet – by reusing the same coffee grounds that are brewed to fuel millions of customers’ beverages each day.
Even the packaging gets a second life – baristas scoop recycled coffee grounds into the same bags that once held espresso beans during shipping to stores.
Although composting may not be commercially available in all municipalities, the reuse program helps divert coffee grounds, one of Starbucks largest waste contributors (by volume and weight), from landfills, supporting Starbucks commitment to halve its carbon, water and waste footprints by 2030.
Much of coffee’s acidity is removed in the brewing process, leaving behind a green material that promotes plant growth, repels ants and slugs, and entices earthworms – making it perfect for gardening.
Grounds For Your Garden extends across the globe, and is available at participating Starbucks stores in Peru, Puerto Rico, India, Japan, and more. In the US, over half of all company-operated stores participate in the program.
