Success: Starbucks Begins Placing Recycling Containers in Stores

Target: Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks

Goal: Commend Starbucks for beginning its recycling plan and ensure further implementation.

Starbucks has been in the spotlight for years because of how many of their cups end up in landfills. They had originally planned to be completely recyclable by 2015, but that obviously did not end up being the case. However, thanks to petitions like this on ForceChange, as well as other public support, Starbucks has finally begun implementing its recycling plan in stores. During the last year in the UK, Starbucks has served recyclable cups in certain locations, as well as begun placing recycling bins in stores to ensure the cups are disposed of correctly.

Although this is not the full scale recycling plan promised by the corporation, it is a very real and concrete step in the right direction. But as much as we must commend their actions, we must ensure that this process of growth continues. They hope that this trial in the UK will yield acceptable results which will lead to large scale implementation of this program.

We unfortunately live in a world where corporate change like this is relatively slow, but as long as we consumers continue to fight for our interests and to protect our environment, they will begin to change. This action by Starbucks is evidence of this, but as mentioned before we can do more to ensure overall reform of how products are disposed of.

Sign this petition to commend Starbucks for starting to keep their promise, and ensure that this form of action continues from the corporation.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Schultz,

I would like to commend your actions in relation to the recycling program being tested in the UK. Your corporation promised many years ago to have completely recyclable cups by 2015, but that is obviously not the case. However, the fact that there has been testing of a totally recyclable cup as well as implementation of recycling containers in stores within the last year, shows that you are moving in the right direction and beginning to put value on the environmental interests of your consumers.

Starbucks, because of its size and popularity, has the opportunity to truly be a world leader in fighting climate change and beginning to remedy our environmental effects on the world. These new policies being put into place in the UK give hope for the future of recycling at your stores, but we must ensure that these practices continue to be implemented all over the world, and not just in the trial areas.

You have the power to be a world leader in change, and you have taken a step in the right direction to be that. Do not drift off course and back into purely profit driven motives.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: DAKALUK