No to Red Cups: Recycling Should be Starbucks' Holiday Priority

Year after year, people await for Starbucks' holiday drinks with essences of peppermint, gingerbread, almond and all those flavors that remind everyone that it's Christmas. It also an annual event for a lot of environmentalists to oppose the Starbucks' red cup promotional tactic.

The red cup countdown is not a new marketing tactic from the company. It is also not new that they receive a ridiculous amount of opposition and protests about it. The issue last year was why Starbucks used a plain red cup, reducing its Christmas feel. People felt scammed. This year, the protests lean toward the environmental side, saying Starbucks should focus on recycling.

It is within the company's corporate responsibility to include sustainability in its goals. Since the red cup promotional tactic generates a large following from all coffee-lovers in the world, it is without a doubt that more wastes are produced every year. As one report writes, "there is nothing festive about generating an obscene amount of non-recyclable waste".

According to a forest advocacy group stand, there will be an estimated 580 million holiday cups in the trash just between now until the New Year. The problem is due to the plastic lining of the cup. They are disposable but non-recyclable. What these activists are angry about is that Starbucks has an option to use 100 percent recyclable materials for their cups. The company has viable alternatives, yet it has turned a blind eye to the harsh and avoidable damage they are about to create.

Furthermore, if they want to still use these original red cups, the company has an option to offer alternatives to their loyal clientele. According to a report, the company can offer promos and incentives for those who will use reusables -- perhaps, bringing one's own mug can do the trick.

Unfortunately, Starbucks has yet to release a statement regarding this matter.