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Starbucks on mission to create sustainable cup

Starbucks is testing a cup liner, called BioPBS, which makes the cup certified compostable and recyclable.

March 11, 2020

Starbucks is testing a recyclable and compostable hot cup solution as part of the NextGen Cup Challenge, a program supported by McDonald's and Closed Loop Partners and is on a mission to address single-use packaging waste by developing an industry-wide recyclable and compostable to-go cup solution, according to a company press release.

After two years of research and development, Starbucks is ready to put one of the cups into the hands of partners and customers to test the overall experience in stores. The cup, being tested in select stores for a limited time, features a cup liner, called BioPBS, which makes the cup certified compostable and recyclable. Customers will not see any noticeable difference from the current cup as Starbucks aims to create a seamless customer experience with the new cup, according to the release.

How we got here
In 2018, Starbucks, and McDonald’s which co-founded NextGen, committed $10 million in partnership with Closed Loop Partners to establish the NextGen Consortium and Cup Challenge. Additionally, Starbucks invested $5 million in Closed Loop Partners’ Infrastructure Fund that finances recycling and circular economy infrastructure across North America.

The NextGen Cup Challenge began with a 6-month design competition that received hundreds of ideas from industry experts and cup scientists alike. From there, the consortium identified 12 winning teams to further their work.  Last year, Starbucks announced a commitment to conduct market tests with the cup technologies in select stores in five cities, including Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Vancouver and London. The chain then conducted months of internal research and development at its Tryer Center, putting the various cups through an array of tests for quality and performance measurements. In addition, the company evaluated manufacturing logistics, scalability, and pricing of each cup.  

The next step
The testing, however, doesn't stop with BioPBS/ Starbucks is also working with Closed Loop Partners, the Consortium and other businesses on continuing to test and validate the recyclability of the various challenge winners.

"We are also continuing the work with key stakeholders in the recycling industry to advocate for increasing the overall recyclability of cups and ensure they are ultimately accepted within municipalities," a spokesperson said in the press release.

Part of a larger effort
Earlier this year, Starbucks announced a multi-decade strategy to become a resource-positive company focusing on reducing carbon, water and waste by 2030.

The company outlined five strategies in a blog announcing the effort. They included:

• Expanding plant-based options, migrating toward a more environmentally friendly menu.
• Shifting away from single-use packaging that ends up in landfills.
• Investing in innovative and regenerative agricultural practices, reforestation, forest conservation and water replenishment in Starbucks supply chain.
• Investing in better ways to manage waste, both in Starbucks stores and in its communities, to ensure more reuse, recycling and elimination of food waste.
• Innovating to develop more eco-friendly stores, operations, manufacturing and delivery.