Starbucks Wants To Bury Its White Cup in History's Trash Heap

Starbucks’ white paper-plastic cup with the forest green company logo is recognized all over the world.   

Millions of people carry around that white cup every day. The daily display of consumer branding has helped to make Starbucks one of the world’s best-known coffee shops.  

Now, the company is trying to kill off that cup. Why? Sustainability now is not just good for the environment. It’s also good for business. By 2030, Starbucks wants to rid its stores of disposable cups. Those cups make up a large part of the company’s overall carbon footprint.         

To do so, Starbucks is giving discounts on its products (mostly $1) if the person comes with a reusable mug or cup. 

It’s still unknown whether this effort will be enough to replace the paper cup. But, almost everyone enjoys a $1 discount.  

“Saving the environment is important and all, but I probably come here more in knowing that I’m going to get a dollar off,” Bethany Patton, 27, told The Associated Press. Patton and two friends each brought their own mugs to a Starbucks in Tempe, Arizona.

Time will tell if the discount works. It’s worth noting that, in 2008, Starbucks also said it wanted all of its cups to be recyclable or reusable by 2015. It still hasn’t hit that goal.

Reflect: What are some examples of small changes you could make on a daily basis that could have a positive impact on the environment?