American, Canadian Starbucks to Phase Out Paper Cups in Favor of Reusable Mugs

Get your to-go cups ready once more since your next Starbucks coffee might have a sustainable ingredient.

US and Canada Phasing Out Paper Cups

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Starbucks customers in the United States and Canada will be able to use a personal, reusable cup for their beverages by the end of next year, the company revealed Tuesday. Drinks ordered in the café, at the drive-thru, and over the phone will be affected by the change.

Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson stated that the company has a strong long-term sustainability agenda and ambitious targets for 2030. Johnson is stepping down as CEO, and Howard Schultz, the previous CEO of Starbucks, will take over as temporary CEO.

Starbucks partners all around the globe are enthusiastic about environmental protection. They are at the forefront of creating the innovation that allows us to give back more than we take, according to Johnson.

In 2020, Starbucks set a target of reducing waste by half by 2030. According to the firm, customers will have "easy access to a personal or Starbucks provided a reusable to-go cup for every visit" by 2025, which hopes to build a "cultural shift" toward adopting reusables.

In the last decade, Starbucks has introduced several different green initiatives.

It announced a project in 2012 to recycle coffee grounds and unsold pastries into plastics and laundry detergent. It also said that plastic straws would be phased out.

In 2015, Starbucks received top grades in a study of how fast-food firms were using more environmentally friendly packaging.

Also Read: Coors Light Leaves Six-Pack Plastic Rings for a Greener Packaging

Companies Going Green

(Photo : Image by Şahin Sezer Dinçer from Pixabay)

Companies of all sizes are striving to become green for various reasons, but one of the most important is increased customer demand for more sustainable products. This is part of a larger trend of people becoming more conscious of the adverse effects of consumerism and industrial production on the environment.

Benefitting the Businesses

For company owners that engage their resources in identifying the most effective methods to green their firms, "going green" is more than simply a trend. Businesses acknowledge the numerous advantages of implementing environmentally-friendly policies and practices. They use organizing committees to bolster their efforts. Employees on these committees focus on green activities, including recycling, utilizing public transit, and conserving energy by shutting off equipment and lights when not in use.

While the initial costs of greening a business may appear high, firms that go green generally save money on water, gas, and electricity in the long run. Investing in energy-efficient equipment and supplies, such as light bulbs, computers, and printers, can help keep overall running expenses low.

Government Incentives

Many local companies are driven to go green since it allows them to qualify for grants and money to help them grow. The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development are two examples of such organizations. Small companies and farms can receive financial support from the Department of Energy through grants and loans. Individuals who want to establish a green business, current green firms, and enterprises taking the required steps to go green can all benefit from such initiatives.