What’s really in your cup?

   

          A rally advocating for Starbucks to create fully recyclable paper cups

Out with the paper cups, in with the reusable cups.

Starbucks recently announced that it will be working to completely phase out the use of single-use cups at its locations through a reusable cup program by 2025. Starbucks has frequently received praise for being ahead of the curb in terms of sustainability and social responsibility, but just how sustainable are Starbucks paper cups?

In a recent press release, Starbucks stated “By the end of next year, customers will be able to use their own reusable cups at every Starbucks in the U.S and Canada – including drive-thru, cafe, and mobile order/pay.”

Whether it’s paper cups or straw-less sippy cups, many major coffees chain retailers have worked to develop more sustainable practices and products in recent years. Even though paper cups are better for the environment than plastic cups, they still can produce negative effects on the environment.

According to Kate Melges, a campaigner for Green Peace Plastics, “While utilizing less plastic is important, just because packaging is recyclable or compostable in an industrial facility, does not mean it will be recycled or composted.”

Starbucks has developed a public reputation for being environmentally conscious. In 2008, Starbucks pledged to create a fully recyclable paper cup. Over a decade later, this commitment remains unfulfilled.

Many consumers don’t even realize that Starbucks current paper cups are not 100% plastic free, the cups still contain heavy amounts of plastic. According to a recent survey conducted by the Seal Awards, “83% percent of Starbucks customers actually believe that Starbucks cups can be fully recycled.” I myself assumed that paper cups would be fully recyclable since they are made out of paper.

However, outside appearances can be misleading. Starbucks’s papers cups are lined on the inside with what’s called polyethylene plastic, a coating that prevents the cups from ultimately being fully recyclable and biodegradable.

When the paper degrades, the plastic remains.

Even when papers cups with plastic lining are recycled by consumers, they may not actually be being recycled by the recycling centers. According to BASF, “most mechanical recycling facilities are not equipped to sort the plastic lining from the paper. Despite proof that it’s definitely possible to recycle your typical plastic lined-paper cup, most recyclers ultimately lack the initiative to make it happen. Generally speaking, cup materials are not valuable enough to justify the cause of processing it.”

Polyethylene coating is commonly used in paper cups to help retain a liquid’s heat, to provide a barrier for the liquid from the paper, and to maintain a cup’s structure. Therefore, the plastic coating serves a vital function.

According to Jim Pace, a senior campaigner and actions manager at Stand Earth, “Starbucks committed itself to solving it’s cup problem and have taken steps to develop solutions, but the majority of its customers still leave the store with single use, disposable paper cups, that are lined with plastic, which end up in the landfill.  Until that is solved, Starbucks has the responsibility to address the problem.” Many customers and individuals have been pushing for years for Starbucks to create a truly and fully recyclable cup, with hashtags such as #Upthecup trending on social media, urging the company to take action.

Starbucks has built its brand and public image on being socially responsible, but has it been a disguise. Has the paper exterior of cups been used to hide the plastic interior?

In the past, Starbucks has offered small discounts to individuals who bring in reusable cups. Now, Starbucks is test-piloting a whole reusable cup borrowing program in Seattle. The program lets consumers request a reusable cup for their drink through the Starbucks App from a kiosk, which then adds a $1 refundable deposit fee to their rewards account. When they return the cup, they get the $1 credited back. Each cup when returned is cleaned and sanitized for another customer’s use.

Customers can find reusable cup kiosks at Starbucks in Seattle

Starbucks says that “one reusable cup will likely replace 30 disposable single-use cups.”

According to Starbuck’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Michael Kobori, “We believe it our responsibility to reduce the use of singe use cup wastes, we will lead the transition to a circular economy.” Starbucks is also actively working to find a way to create a cup that is compostable, fully recyclable, and that can hold hot liquids without having to use plastic lining.

From Hydo flasks and travel mugs to metal straws and reusable containers, the use of reusable products has been on the rise in recent years, leading us to question whether disposable cups will finally become a thing of the past.

What are your thoughts on Starbuck’s new reusable cup program and initiative ?