Whether or not you are a Starbucks fan, you could easily recognize their iconic siren logo seen on every drink, whether it be plastic cups for iced drinks or cardboard sleeves. However, the company is planning an attempt to remove these famous cups by 2030 in order to follow the mission of sustainability. In its place Starbucks plans to push the initiative of reusable cups by giving customers $1 off their drink. At the moment it is only being pushed in a number of states to test out their reactions, but soon enough this initiative may take place in more locations around the country.
According to the Associated Press, Starbucks’ drive to overhaul the cup comes with an obvious business imperative. Producing disposable products like their notable cups creates greenhouse gas emissions, which warm the planet and lead to extreme weather events and other occurrences produced by climate change. Their cups go against the expectations of their customers to be part of the solution to climate change, and they have now decided to back up all their talk about being a more sustainable company by disposing of the cups.
With the public becoming more conscious of the amount of waste produced, other companies like Dunkin Donuts may start to follow in their footsteps. If more companies do this, they will set the new standard.
In order to comply with climate change and follow their mission, Starbucks is paving the way by getting rid of their one time use cups and pushing for another idea. Some people love this idea and are taking advantage of the push for sustainability for the means of the small discount, but others find it irritating and inconvenient for them.
If Starbucks does actually go through with this plan, people will choose two different sides just like the reusable bags debate in New Jersey. Some people will choose convenience over changing the state of climate change. If anything presents a hassle or a level of difficulty, people are more likely to ignore it or take their business elsewhere. Even if it means not getting their $1 off discount, people would rather get their cup when they order rather than bring in a cup from home and have it be filled with their drink. With reusable cups rising as a trend and being a part of a collection, people will still find a way to complain and make an issue with the workers and will make a point not to follow their new standard.
In the same respect, you can find yourself staring at shelves in Starbucks filled to the brim with their own branded reusable cups that could be used to get your drink of choice. The reusable cups still carry the same logo of the plastic and cardboard cups with just the added factor of sustainability. Customers will not have to go as far as to get their reusable cup so the air of convenience is still at their fingertips, all they have to do is buy the cup before paying for their drink and they are all set.
With the public becoming more conscious of the amount of waste produced, other companies like Dunkin Donuts may start to follow in their footsteps. If more companies do this, they will set the new standard. If it is just one company pushing this idea people are more likely to ignore or forget the new initiative and just not do it at all. They will look towards other companies that are sticking with their single use plastic cups putting Starbucks at a loss and not making a difference with their initiative. If all the coffee companies plan to get rid of plastic all together, the transition from single use to reusable will be an easier change that will become more constant rather than just a one time thing.
So next time you find yourself at Starbucks staring blankly at the reusable cups, why not try the change and switch over to a greener idea? The future is green and full of bringing your own resources everywhere. Whether it is grocery shopping or just simply getting a cup of coffee, do your part and bring your own so that you can help lessen the amount of plastic waste in the world.
rbleich@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @Starbucks, X
