Starbucks set to complete its EarthSleeve initiative

This summer the coffee chain aims to complete the global rollout of its hot cup sleeves, called EarthSleeve, which are made from less paper and more post-consumer content than Starbucks previous cup sleeves.

“Up to 80 percent of our cups leave the store with our customers,” said Jim Hanna, who leads environmental sustainability for Starbucks.

“Reducing the waste associated with our cup sleeves is one important way we can help mitigate the impact of our packaging.”

Since Starbucks first rolled out EarthSleeve to the U.S. and Canada in 2012, the cup sleeves have saved 21 million pounds of fiber, which correlates to more than 188,000 trees, according to the company. The sleeves are also both recyclable with cardboard and compostable in commercial systems.

In the China and Asia Pacific region, the EarthSleeve use 18 percent less paper than its predecessor, and the reduced weight also reduces transportation costs and environmental impact. Estimated savings on paper in the region per year is more than 600,000 pounds (276,000 kg).

“We will keep working to decrease the materials used in our packaging, and find new ways to encourage reusables and implement recycling solutions for our cups,” Hanna said.

“This is one piece of the puzzle.”