Starbucks enthusiasts in Napa Valley, Calif. may notice a slight difference in their drink orders as the popular coffee chain tests a new sustainability program.
Typically, customers find their drinks delivered in a plastic cup for cold drinks or a classic paper cup for hot drinks. Now, customers stopping in at Starbucks locations in Napa will receive their beverages in a new, specialty cup that is meant to be returned to Starbucks where it will be cleaned and reused. This program called “Borrow A Cup” started earlier this month and will run through Oct. 22.
“Our latest round of reusables tests around the world contribute to our goal for all customer packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable in the future,” said Amelia Landers, vice president of business strategy, partner & customer solutions at Starbucks. “We know our partners and customers care about the planet, and we’re proud to offer them ways to join us in making sustainable choices in their everyday lives.”
Napa and Petaluma consist of 12 Starbucks locations; these shops were picked due to their high foot traffic, leading the team to believe customers would be more inclined to return the cups since they are walking around so much.
Typically, the hot coffee paper cups must be thrown away with regular trash in Napa because they are coated with a thin layer of plastic. The new, thicker, reusable plastic cups can be recycled in blue bins, fortunately.