Starbucks Aims to Eliminate Disposable Cups by 2030, Faces Challenges in Changing Customer Habits and Supply Chain
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Starbucks aims to eliminate disposable cups by 2030 to reduce waste and emissions. This poses challenges around customer convenience and advertising.
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Starbucks is piloting reusable cup programs and working on innovations to make disposable cups more sustainable, using less material and more recycled content.
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Success requires changes across Starbucks' operations and supply chain. It also depends on customer willingness to change habits.
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Reusable cups currently make up only a tiny fraction of Starbucks sales. Most cups still end up in landfills despite sustainability efforts.
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Transitioning to reusables and more sustainable disposables involves extensive R&D into materials, manufacturing, and managing customer perceptions.