"Disposable Cups Disappear" Starbucks Announces Mid-to-Long-Term Sustainability Strategy

Under the slogan 'Valuable Together' by 2025, five key initiatives will be pursued
Starting nationwide pilot operation of reusable cups this year to achieve zero disposable cups
Expanding total recruitment by 30%, with over 10% of hires from vulnerable groups

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] As Shinsegae Group is considering acquiring 100% of Starbucks Korea's shares, Starbucks Coffee Korea announced its mid-to-long-term sustainability vision on the 6th. Named the ‘Valuable Value’ project, this strategy expands the scope from the previous campaigns focused on ‘environmental’ issues to include ‘coexistence’ and ‘employment.’ The strategy is centered on two main pillars: ‘Planet,’ aiming for a 30% reduction in carbon emissions, and ‘People,’ focusing on a 30% increase in hiring, with five detailed tasks to be carried out by 2025.

Starbucks will replace disposable cups with reusable cups at all stores nationwide by 2025. (Staged photo; the actual design of the reusable cups in use may differ)

Reducing Carbon Emissions by 30%

Starbucks Korea plans to gradually introduce reusable cups nationwide at Starbucks stores to replace disposable cups, aiming for a 0% disposable cup usage rate by 2025. Pilot stores will be selected in the second half of this year to operate with reusable cups. At these pilot stores, customers will be provided with reusable cups that require a deposit instead of disposable cups. After use, customers can return the cups through unmanned return stations at stores operating the reusable cup system to get their deposit refunded.

Starbucks Korea has been actively engaged in various activities to reduce disposable product usage. Since 2018, it has been the first Starbucks worldwide to introduce paper straws across all stores nationwide. This initiative has saved over 180 million plastic straws annually, amounting to 126 tons. The lids designed for use without straws have also been introduced alongside paper straws, reducing disposable straw usage by more than 40% annually.

In the beverage sector, Starbucks Korea has introduced oat milk as a selectable option and continues to develop plant-based beverages, food products, and alternative meat ingredients to expand related product categories. The company also strengthens product lines using local specialties. Since 2016, Starbucks has consistently developed native Korean beverages such as Mungyeong Omija Fizzio, Gwangyang Hwangmaesil Fizzio, and Gongju Bonibam Latte. This year, five new beverages using Korean agricultural products will be launched, with plans to expand up to 10 varieties by 2025.

Stores certified for eco-friendliness domestically and internationally, energy-efficient products, and standby power reduction devices will also be actively introduced. The Byeoldabang store, opened last month, is the first caf? in Korea to challenge the LEED Silver certification, a U.S. green building certification, within this year. Starting in 2024, all Starbucks logistics and delivery trucks nationwide will be replaced with eco-friendly electric trucks.

Starbucks will increase partner hiring by more than 30% compared to the current level by 2025. Starbucks Byuldabang partners are giving high fives.

Expanding Hiring by 30%

Starbucks Korea plans to expand hiring by 2025 to contribute to job creation. Currently, Starbucks employs 18,000 partners. By 2025, approximately 5,500 additional partners, exceeding 30% of the current workforce, will be hired, bringing the total number of partners to over 23,500.

Notably, by 2025, about 10% of all employees will be hired from vulnerable employment groups. Currently, Starbucks employs 708 partners with disabilities (based on the legal number of disabled persons), including 160 return-mom baristas supported through reemployment programs for women with career interruptions. Since last year, Starbucks has been operating a program with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to support re-entrepreneurship and employment at Starbucks for small business owners aged 40 and above who dream of a comeback.

To share social value and realization, Starbucks is promoting a project to expand coffee experience sharing with customers. The number of stores operating as profit-sharing stores, which donate part of their revenue, such as Starbucks Community Stores, and talent donation cafes operated through interior and equipment remodeling and education support by current Starbucks partners, will increase from the current 14 locations (10 talent donation cafes, 2 community stores, Hwangudan store, and Seoul National University Dental Hospital store) to 30 by 2025. Community Stores accumulate 300 KRW per item sold as a fund. The cumulative fund for the second store has reached 1.34 billion KRW.

Song Ho-seop, CEO of Starbucks Korea, said, "To achieve the goals of the 2025 mid-to-long-term strategy, Starbucks will work closely with partners, customers, relevant government agencies, NGOs, and partners to do its best for positive changes in the environment and local communities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.