Coffee shops have long supported customers bringing their own cups (before the pandemic hit) to cut down on waste, but it’s a hassle having to both remember to clean the cup and put it back in your bag for the next coffee. Starbucks is removing that hassle with its latest reusable cup idea, though.
It’s called the “Borrow a Cup” program, and it’s being trialled for two months in five Seattle stores in a bid to cut down of single cup waste. Customers can request a resuable cup when they order their beverage and a $1 deposit is paid for the cup. Once your drink if finished, the cup can be scanned at “a participating store’s contactless return kiosk located in the lobby or drive-thru and drop the cup in the designated opening in the kiosk.”
Once Starbucks has verified you returned the cup, that $1 deposit is refunded and 10 Bonus Stars are added to your account. Starbucks then handles the rest through a partnership with reuse system operator and service provider GO Box. It collects all the deposited reusable cups and professionally cleans and sanitizes them using commercial dishwashing equipment. Within 48 hours, each cup is ready to be reused again.
“Promoting reusability is an important part of Starbucks goal to reduce waste by 50% by 2030,” said Michael Kobori, Starbucks Chief Sustainability Officer. “We understand the interdependency of human and planetary Health, and we believe it is our responsibility to reduce single use cup waste. We will lead the transition to a circular economy.”
For Starbucks customers it’s a win-win situation. They still get the same drinks at no extra cost, but aren’t creating new single cup waste while also earning bonus stars on their account. And the reusable cups are apparently good for 30 uses before they need recycling. Imagine how much plastic waste would be reduced if Starbucks moves to reusable cups at all its stores.
