News

Starbucks introduces sustainable hot sleeve

July 20, 2012

Today, Starbucks Coffee Company, LBP Manufacturing and Henkel announced the availability of EarthSleeve, a new hot-cup sleeve that integrates proprietary technology that enables a reduction in overall material usage while at the same time increasing the post-consumer content.

These adjustments correlate to a savings of nearly 100,000 trees, according to a news release.

Manufactured in Cicero, Ill., by LBP Manufacturing for Starbucks with Henkel adhesive solutions, this new product decreases raw fiber material by 34 percent and increases post-consumer content by 25 percent without compromising function. With nearly three billion hot-cup sleeves produced in the U.S. in 2011 and Starbucks representing nearly half of the marketplace, this product introduction is anticipated to have a substantial impact on the packaging industry.

"At Starbucks we are constantly looking to innovate in ways that make our world a better place," said Cliff Burrows, president of the Americas for Starbucks. "This product represents how the integration of our environmental values and collaboration with like-minded organizations can create significant impact."

The EarthSleeve is currently being introduced into Starbucks locations across the U.S. and Canada and is being evaluated for global usage.

In addition to its material reduction, the EarthSleeve also allows for a case cube and truckload yield improvement of 15 percent, reducing the overall environmental impact of the transportation of the sleeves. The product has also been deemed fully compostable by both ASTM and Cedar Grove requirements, and has recently been approved for repulpability by Western Michigan University.

"This product represents a whole new level of innovation in packaging performance, sustainability and corporate social responsibility we can expect in the future," said Matthew Cook, president of LBP.

Read more about sustainability.