10,000 ‘Greener Stores’ globally by 2025: Starbucks

Advancing towards its resource positive goals global coffee chain Starbucks has certified over 3,500 ‘Greener Stores’ globally. With this latest round of certifications Starbucks is well on its way to achieving its goal of 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025. Starbucks is also expanding the Greener Stores programme to 20 markets, across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.

In the US Starbucks Greener Stores practices have saved the company almost $60 million in annual operating costs, including 30% water savings and 30% energy reduction when compared to historic store practices. In markets around the world, Greener Stores energy and water savings and waste diversion help advance the company’s goal to reduce carbon emissions, water usage and landfill waste by 50% by 2030.

The Starbucks Greener Stores Framework, co-developed with the World Wildlife Fund, includes a set of 25 performance-based standards across environmental impact areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion. Each Greener Store has a different combination of sustainable features that help it receive its third-party verification. Some stores have obvious elements like solar panels or water recycling tanks. While others have less obvious features behind the counter like high efficiency appliances, low-emitting paint and sealants, recycling tampers and energy efficient HVAC temperature systems. 

Daily practices by employees (or partners as they are known in Starbucks) are also a key factor in Greener Store certification and many of the standards were influenced directly by partner ideas and feedback.