Starbucks to offer reusable cup-share scheme in European stores by 2025
An initial trial will begin over the coming months in France, Germany, and the UK.
Starbucks said it will introduce a reusable cup-share scheme in all its stores in Europe by 2025, as the coffee giant looks to reduce its consumption of single-use packaging.
A trial will start over the coming months in France, Germany, and the UK, expanding shortly thereafter based on local operations, regulations, and customer feedback.
Starbucks said the initiative is a key part of its global commitment to reducing single-use cup waste, and its overall goal of reducing waste by 50% by 2030.
The programme will allow customers to pay a small deposit for a reusable cup for hot and cold beverages. Tested to last up to 30 times and available in three sizes, cups use an identifying number associated with the Starbucks reusable cup to the deposit paid.
Customers are then able to use their reusable and return it to Starbucks via a kiosk or at the point of sale. Upon return, Starbucks will give the deposit back to the customer in the form of a tender.
Starbucks will also be introducing a new reusable cup that uses foaming technology, claiming it uses 70% less plastic than current reusable cups. The cups can also be used without a sleeve, courtesy of a wall structure that provides insulation for both hot and cold liquids.
The company will be providing a 25 to 30 cent discount for any customer bringing in their own reusable cup across the region and is also reintroducing its 5-cent paper cup surcharge in the UK and Germany.
Starbucks stores in Switzerland and the Czech Republic are also introducing a paper cup charge over the coming weeks.
“While we have made great strides in reducing the number of single-use paper cups that leave our stores there is more to be done and we must make reusability the only option, long term,” Duncan Moir, president at Starbucks EMEA, commented.
