I go to Starbucks almost every week. Not because I particularly love their products or their brand, but because it’s a nice shop in a central location where I can get comfortable and enjoy time with my friends who come and knit with me on Sunday mornings.
I almost always (except those darn forgetful days) bring my own cup and order a tall shaken green iced tea, my favorite drink (unless you count the green tea frappucino, a delightful indulgence). And while sipping my tea, sans disposable straw, I always look around and see that everyone else in the shop is drinking from a disposable cup.
The question is: Why? Why don’t the baristas ask, “For here or to go?” like many other restaurants? Why aren’t in-store customers given nice ceramic mugs or glass cups to drink from? Why do we have to bring our own cups if we are going to stay in the store and want to avoid disposables?
In this day and age, this shouldn’t even be an issue. I have thought of it for a while now, but after seeing this post at My Plastic-Free Life and this one at EcoYogini, I realized it was time to stop thinking about it and start doing something.
My first step was writing a letter to Starbucks about their disposable cups. Why, I asked, aren’t in-store customers offered reusable cups? Why are disposable cups the default? I was pleasantly surprised to find this response a day later:
Hello Y.L.,
Thank you for letting us know about the waste in the store. Hearing feedback straight from our customers is invaluable. I will be forwarding your comments on to the appropriate department here, as well as the management of the store to make sure that the appropriate actions are taken to address this issue.
Thanks again for letting us know and giving us the opportunity to improve something in our stores.
Sincerely,
Nick D
customer service
Then I got on Twitter and wrote them again, encouraging them to please offer reusable cups to all in-store customers. And that’s when it occurred to me: F L A S H M O B. I think it can be intimidating for people to see a link to a customer service contact page and think about how to compose a letter to a company. And then it just doesn’t get done. BUT – it sure is easy to drop in to a Facebook fan page or Twitter page and leave a quick note. Something like, “Hey, please offer your in-store customers reusable cups instead of defaulting to disposables!” See. Super easy, right?
So please join me this week and let’s flash mob Starbucks! Drop a quick note to them on Twitter (hashtag #starbuckslesswaste) and on Facebook and tell them what you’d like to see. (For you Canadians, the FB page is Starbucks Canada and the Twitter page is @StarbucksCanada.) Be kind and respectful and supportive and show them that their commitment to greener business practices will bring in a whole slew of loyal customers who want to see businesses take waste reduction seriously.
Ready, set, GO!
YAY!!!!! I LOVE this idea!! Doing it right now
@EcoYogini: Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank YOU for having this fab idea! Also, for my Canadian Peeps- Twitter name for Starbucks is @StarbucksCanada
@EcoYogini: Oh thanks for adding that! Someone on FB gave me the link to the Starbucks Canada FB page, too – didn’t realize they were different! Good to know!
Yes, Yes, Yes! I was wondering when somebody was going to do something about that! I’m sure you’ll have tons of support!!!
great idea. I have also wondered..what if the disposable cups (the plastic cold cups?) were at least of the compostable variety/!!???? Some other small juice/coffee stands in our Portland, neighborhood offer these. And if small businesses can afford to do it..then Starbucks could!
@TaraW: Yeah, you guys are WAY ahead of us! LOL. They should absolutely do that. I think those cups require “commercial composting,” but like you said – Starbucks could and should separate those and have them taken to the proper facility. I do have a slight worry about compostable cups, etc., since they still send the message, “Hey, you can throw this away and it’ll still break down.” There’s still something vaguely “disposable” about the whole thing and how many people realize what is exactly required to compost these items…? Anyway, just babbling! Compostable is better than what we have now in Redmond, at least!
All the Starbucks I’ve been to do here in Portland have actual mugs, you just have to ask for them when you order. They should offer it as well, but don’t. It’s kind of like the Short size of coffee (as drinks on the board start at Tall) – it still exists, it’s just not on the menu.
@EcoGrrl: Oh, Portland! So awesome! I think we might have mugs, too, but you sure wouldn’t know it! I NEVER see anyone ask for them and it never occurred to me to do so, either. They definitely should ask!!
Thanks for bringing this up! It always bothers me that Starbucks is still choosing the environmentally UNfriendly way to serve drinks. I’d love to see recycling bins located in their stores, as well. I end up taking home all that packaging (and grabbing friends’ stuff, too) and recycling it myself. I just posted on Starbucks’ Facebook wall, and saw a few other Flash Mob posts there, too (yay!). My local indie coffee joint uses real mugs and plates; why can’t the ‘Bux?
@Rebecca: Wahoo! Thanks for joining in! My sis-in-law brought up the recycling bins, too, and I totally agree! Why shouldn’t they have those?
They do, you just have to ask as they don’t volunteer.
They do have mugs – I’ve asked and gotten them, they just don’t offer them up.
Well, that’s good to know. I will be asking from now on, and spreading the word. It’s a shame that we HAVE to ask, though. I’ve never seen anyone in a Starbucks being given a mug. Maybe they don’t want us to know that option exists?
@Rebecca: I honestly wonder that, too. I mean, what’s the deal? Why not TELL us the cups are available, or ask us? Come on!!
TaraW, I totally agree!
For such a forward moving company, this seems like a logical step. I hope that they will run with it! Makes me wish I had a Starbucks around here.. okay so I wish that a lot anyhow. I will definitely go tweet!
@Amanda: Thanks for the RT and support!
Great idea! I’ve often thought the same thing. I recently heard about this initiative that Starbucks has created with a California mug maker. They could have local mug makers create mugs for use in all of their stores. http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Local-Mug-Manufacturer-Starbucks-Team-Up-for-Jobs/X70b8hk5H0CrPcwoR9m_Xg.cspx
@herbanlifestyle: That is AWESOME! Thanks for the link!
I’m mobbing right now too… tweeting and posting on FB
I admire your initiative Yancy!
I saw this post link on several walls on FB, including Beth’s and a green group I belong to. Congrats!
I often cringe when coffee shops refuse to fill my travel mug, including some Starbucks – not all are owned by Starbucks so some do fill it – so hopefully this campaign will reach the HQ once again so they can revisit the policy.
I RT’d and shared too! Let’s do it!
@Karen: Thank you so much for joining in and passing the word along! I appreciate it!
Me too Y! Great idea! Thanks so much. Miss connecting with you!
@Namaste*Heather: Ditto that! I need to drop you a line! Hugs!
What a nice and meaningful gesture!! Do they use disposable cups too in Canada? I rarely (read never) go to this place, I once worked in a Dunkin’ Donuts when I was young and had ceramic cups for the staying customers….
@Cul de Sac: Not sure about Canada, but one of my blogger friends, EcoYogini wrote a post about it recently, and looks like disposables are the default in her area (Nova Scotia).
oh- and i guess i could comment that disposable is the default also in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Alberta (provinces I’ve been to and gone into a Starbucks).
It seems when I travel I tend to default to Starbucks because they are everywhere and I’m too travel weary to try to find a local coffee place unless i’m spending a bit more than a few days in the area….
oops and BC too!
Yep, they definitely use disposable cups in canada- and it’s disheartening really when so many provinces have recycling and composting by-laws…. :S