SEATTLE, US – Beginning June 22, Starbucks is safely reintroducing personal reusable cups across company operated stores in the U.S. As part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to prioritizing partner and customer safety, the company developed a completely contactless, new method – eliminating any shared touch points between the customer and Starbucks partners (baristas).
Bringing back personal reusable cups is a key part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to reduce single-use cup waste and goal to reduce waste by 50% by 2030. At Starbucks, pre-COVID 80% of beverages are enjoyed on the go. To encourage customers to choose reusable and reduce single-use cup waste, Starbucks will continue offering customers a $.10 discount on their beverage of choice.
Starbucks held extensive trials and has adopted this new process, using a ceramic mug to transport the reusable cup through the bar, in EMEA and Asia Pacific to reintroduce reusable cups with confidence.
Only clean cups will be accepted; Starbucks partners will not be able to clean them for customers. In addition, the company is currently testing safe options for allowing personal reusable cups via the drive thru, but for now personal reusable cups will only be accepted in stores.
Starbucks will also be reinstating For Here Ware for customers who choose to enjoy their food and beverages in-store where indoor dining is available.
Efforts to reduce waste of single-use cups is not new to Starbucks
The chain has offered the option for customers to enjoy their beverage in For Here Ware or to BYOC (bring your own cup) for a discount since the 1980s. Starbucks continues to explore scalable options to reduce single-use cup waste and has acted through powerful partnerships to research and test solutions that will make cups, lids and straws easier to recycle and compost. This complements the work with municipalities to improve recycling and composting infrastructure.
Starbucks continues to make progress against this goal around the world. Earlier this month, Starbucks EMEA announced they will offer a reusable cup share program in all Europe, Middle East and Africa stores by 2025. In July, Starbucks South Korea will launch Borrow a Cup program in stores and recently committed to eliminating single-use cups by 2025.
