Sustainability
The 101 of Starbucks sustainability
At Starbucks Australia, we pride ourselves on being a pioneer in the coffee brewing and cafe foods space. But it’s not only our delicious menu and excellent service that helps us do that. It’s also our multi-decade focus on sustainability and aspiration to become a resource positive company.
Read on to learn more about the Starbucks sustainability initiatives we undertake to ensure the planet feels as good as we do after a blend of the best.
Starbucks sustainability initiatives
We’re just as committed to making delicious coffee as we are to making a positive impact on the environment. That’s why every aspect of our processes – right from harvesting the beans to the moment the brew is poured into your cup – is geared towards sustainability.
How is Starbucks helping the environment?
When you first think about sustainability and coffee, your mind might bring up images of reusable cups and paper straws. But for Starbucks, sustainability extends far beyond that.
Our environmental initiatives include ethically traded coffee, a commitment to fair wages for our partners, 100% RSPCA Approved chicken, cage-free eggs and clean, quality foods.
We also donate millions of trees each year and take part in the Sustainable Coffee Challenge – an initiative led by Conservation International to make coffee the world’s first sustainable agriculture product.
Starbucks recycling
Remember those reusable cups and paper straws we mentioned before? They are in fact a part of the Starbucks sustainability initiatives.
When you bring your own cup instore, you’re eligible to receive 50c off your order. That’s a win for you and a win for the environment.
When it comes to disposable plates and cutlery for takeaway eats, we only use biodegradable items.
Beyond sustainable coffee
While coffee is our specialty, our other products don’t fall by the wayside. From our plant-based milk alternatives to our animal welfare commitments, we’re dedicated to nurturing our shared home; planet Earth.
Ethical coffee sourcing since day one
At Starbucks, we’ve focused our efforts on ethically sourced coffee since our beginnings in 1971. To put it simply, it means we acquire the resources to make our delicious brews in a responsible, sustainable way.
Ethical sourcing is a big part of who we are, and in 1998 we started working with Conservation International. The nonprofit partners with businesses to protect our most valuable resources.
In 2001, we created a verification program called C.A.F.E. Practices (Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices). These provide us with a set of guidelines that ensure our coffee is always ethically grown and responsibly traded.
Protecting the future of coffee
With ethical practices and strong farming communities, we ensure a healthy supply of high-quality coffee in the future.
To maintain that, we work closely with farmers to ensure that our practices benefit their communities, the environment and their businesses. Our Global Farmer Fund is a $50 million commitment providing loans to coffee farms which strengthen and support their livelihoods. Available to coffee-growing communities worldwide, the funds help produce innovations that address issues like leaf rust, for example.
To grow the best beans we can, we offer our farmers – regardless of location – complimentary access to agronomists for information and advice. As we only purchase coffee if it meets our strict standards, the higher the quality, the higher the farmer’s compensation.
Importantly, all the coffee we purchase meets the Fairtrade certification. This guarantees both environmental protection, and a minimum price for farmers that acts as a safety net if prices ever drop.
That’s not all, though. Our coffee is entirely organic (something that can only be done by a third party), which means that no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or chemical fertilisers are used during growing, processing or handling.
Starbucks’ sustainable food practices
Every time you enjoy a Chicken & Avocado Panini or a Roast Chicken & Herbed Stuffing Toastie, rest assured they were made with 100% RSPCA Approved chicken4. We’ve also committed to using only cage-free eggs (so your Walnut Brownie Slice is a sustainable food choice too).
To keep items like your Spinach & Ricotta Roll fresh, we use local suppliers. This has the dual benefit of supporting farmers in the area and ensuring your food doesn’t travel too far before it arrives in store.
Sustainable animal-free options
If you fancy a meat-free option, we’ve got a range of delicious hand-made choices to suit.
The ability to make every hand-crafted beverage your own also allows you to swap full cream milk for MILKLAB oat, almond, soy or coconut milk. And for the beverages that contain whipped cream, make them entirely vegan by opting for the plant-based alternative.
Spoiler: they taste just as good as the non-vegan options. So if you’re looking for a way to be a little more sustainable in your own daily habits, why not make the switch?
Our ongoing commitment to the environment
Each day, as our baristas deliver delicious blended beverages to your outstretched hands, our team continues to work away behind the scenes, finding more sustainable practices to implement.
Our journey towards conscious consumption, ethical practices and minimising our environmental impact is ongoing. We set ourselves ambitious targets and aim high when it comes to sustainability. Because when we say it’s a priority, we mean it.
Find out more about Starbucks’ sustainability initiatives on our website.