Starbucks is saying goodbye to single-use paper cups

BY 2025, you may no longer need to give the barista your name at Starbucks when you order a cappuccino, because the American coffee giant has decided to phase out single-use paper cups.

Ahead of its annual shareholder convention, Starbucks unveiled an action plan to reduce the carbon footprint of its business. The goal is to halve its waste by 2030. And to achieve this, the American coffee giant has decided to stop serving its drinks in the famous paper cups that the barista writes your name on before preparing your order.

Instead, the coffee chain intends to offer reusable recipients. This evidently refers to the various mugs and cups that the chain already has for sale in its outlets. Consumers will also be able to use their own reusable cups, as is already the case for some coffee drinkers.

Without specifying exactly which countries will be involved, Starbucks plans to roll out this waste reduction program to six markets around the world. Trials are already underway in the United Kingdom, Japan and Singapore.

And, by the end of 2023, all customers in the US and Canada will be able to bring their own personal mugs when they order a hot drink. Note that this decision does not only concern orders in store at the cash desk. Drive-thru orders and orders via mobile will also be involved in the switch to reusable cups.

Moreover, the world's most famous coffee chain has decided to promote the use of electric vehicles through a partnership with the car manufacturer Volvo.

About 60 electric charging stations will be installed in the United States, at Starbucks locations on the route from Denver to Seattle, where the Starbucks headquarters is located. The route covers more than 2,000 kilometers (1,350 miles).