Single-use Cups to Disappear from All Starbucks Stores in Jeju... Annual Reduction of 5 Million Units Expected

Starbucks reusable cup

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Starbucks Coffee Korea will operate all 23 Starbucks stores in the Jeju Island area as disposable cup-free stores starting from the 7th. In disposable cup-free stores, beverages are served only in store mugs, personal cups, or reusable cups instead of disposable cups.

Reusable cup return machines have been installed not only in all 23 Starbucks stores in Jeju Island but also with 2 units at Jeju Airport and 1 unit at SK Rent-a-Car, increasing the number from 5 during the initial pilot operation to 26.

Starbucks explained that through the pilot store operations currently underway at 12 stores in Seoul since the 6th of last month, as well as in Jeju Island, they are listening to various customer opinions regarding the reusable cup return machines and making efforts to reflect them.

First, the recognition speed of returned reusable cups was shortened and the jamming issue after cup insertion was improved. Additionally, even if the used reusable cups have beverage stains, recognition was enhanced so that customers do not need to wash the cups themselves but only need to empty the remaining contents.

Starbucks noted that previously, many customers used reusable cups multiple times without returning them immediately or stored them for later return. With the expansion of the return machines, convenience is expected to increase, further accelerating the recovery rate.

Since July, the recovery rate at the four pilot stores?Jeju Seohaean-ro DT Store, Jeju Aewol DT Store, Jeju Chilseong Store, and Jeju Hyeopjae Store?has been steadily rising to 50%, and the expansion of return machines is expected to have an even more positive impact on increasing the recovery rate. When the recovery rate exceeds 40%, it is evaluated as having a carbon reduction effect compared to using disposable cups.

Currently, in Seoul as well, the recovery rate at the 12 pilot stores operating since the 6th of last month has surpassed 60%, and the carbon reduction effect from using reusable cups is gradually becoming evident.

Over the past five months, approximately 300,000 disposable cups have been saved through the use of reusable cups at the four pilot stores in Jeju. If reusable cup use expands to all stores in Jeju, an annual reduction of more than 5 million disposable cups is expected.

Reusable cups that are broken or no longer usable are not simply discarded. End-of-life reusable cups will be 100% recycled and upcycled into other products such as eco-bags or household items, which will be newly introduced.

Ha Ik-sung, Executive Director of Planning at Starbucks, stated, “The use of reusable cups is an excessive process that partially replaces personal cups. Ultimately, through the expansion of disposable cup-free eco-store operations, the goal is to spread the culture of personal cup use.” He added, “Customer response has been very positive, increasing the return rate, and we will continue to improve areas that need enhancement.”

Meanwhile, in April this year, Starbucks announced a mid- to long-term sustainability strategy aiming for a 30% carbon reduction, including the challenge of achieving 0% disposable cup usage by introducing reusable cups in all Starbucks stores nationwide by 2025.

In June this year, a business agreement was signed for a pilot project to create a “Disposable Cup-Free Clean Jeju” involving seven public-private organizations including the Ministry of Environment, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Korea Airports Corporation, SK Telecom, CJ Logistics, and Happy Connect. The pilot project with reusable cups began in four stores in Jeju in July.

Following Jeju, pilot operations started at 12 stores in Seoul from November 6th, with plans to expand to all stores in the Seoul area next year.

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