Operations

Reusable cups sticking around at Starbucks

Photo: Starbucks

January 3, 2024

Customers at all company-operated and participating licensed Starbucks stores ih the U.S. and Canada may now use their clean, personal cups when ordering in cafes, at the drive-thru or when ordering ahead with the Starbucks app.

With the majority of Starbucks beverages enjoyed on the go, the strategy unlocks a big opportunity for customers to choose reusables and supports Starbucks' commitment to reduce waste by 50 percent by 2030, said Michael Kobori, Starbucks' chief sustainability officer.

"At Starbucks, we envision a future where every beverage can be served in a reusable cup," Michael Kobori said in a company press release. "Offering customers more options to use a personal cup when they visit Starbucks marks tangible progress towards the future. We know our customers are passionate about the planet, and now, they can join us in our efforts to give more than we take, no
matter how they order."

How it works
Customers at participating stores in the U.S. and Canada who bring any clean, personal cup will receive a 10-cent discount on their beverages, and in the U.S., Starbucks Rewards members will receive 25 Bonus Stars.

• In the cafe, customers tell the barista when they order that they have their own cups. Customers choosing to sit and stay in cafes may also request a reusable ceramic or glass cup at most stores.
• In the drive-thru, while ordering, customers order their beverages as usual and let the barista know they brought their own cups. At the pickup window, baristas will collect customers' personal cups without the lid using a contactless vessel to ensure hygiene and safety. The beverage will be returned the same way.
• When customers order via the Starbucks app, first they will hit the "Customization" button and then select "Personal Cup" in the customization menu and continue ordering as normal. When they get to the store, customers connect with their barista at the pickup area and hand over their personal cups without the lids. The barista will hand the beverage back in a contactless vessel.

Starbucksfirst launched a reusable cup test in August 2023, in 12 Starbucks stores in Napa and Petaluma, California, allowing customers to bring their own cups to fill orders through Oct. 22.