Starbucks Surpasses 200 Million Personal Cup Uses; 32.25 Million Recorded This Year Alone

Benefits Provided for Personal Cup Users
Total Customer Rewards Exceed 90 Billion Won
Expansion of Dedicated Tumbler Washers

Starbucks Korea announced on December 10 that the cumulative number of personal reusable cup uses in its stores has surpassed 200 million over the past 18 years.

According to Starbucks, which introduced the personal cup usage system in 2007 and compiled data through November of this year, the total number of personal cup uses reached 206.8 million. The benefits provided to customers through this initiative are estimated to amount to approximately 90 billion won.

From January to November this year alone, there were 32.25 million personal cup uses, marking the highest figure ever recorded for the same period in any year. After surpassing 100 million cumulative uses in 2022, just 15 years after the system’s introduction, the number doubled to 200 million in only three years, indicating a clear upward trend in personal cup usage.

Starbucks explained that this achievement is equivalent to reducing the use of 200 million single-use cups. According to the company, if 200 million Starbucks iced tall-size cups were stacked, the length would cover the distance between Seoul and Busan approximately 26 times round-trip, or about 21,000 kilometers-half the circumference of the Earth.

Provided by Starbucks.

The rapid increase in personal cup usage is attributed to system improvements that enhanced customer convenience and participatory campaigns. Since 2018, Starbucks has allowed customers to choose between a cash discount or Eco-Star points when using a personal cup, and the discount amount was raised from 300 won to 400 won in 2022.

Since 2018, Starbucks has been running the ‘No Single-Use Cup Day’ campaign on the 10th of every month in partnership with the Resource Recycling Society. Starting in March this year, the campaign’s benefits have been enhanced. By introducing a scratch event that offers customers who accumulate Eco-Star points with a personal cup either a free Star or a free tall-size Americano coupon, participation rates have steadily increased. In fact, from March to November this year, the number of personal cup uses rose by 16% compared to the same period last year. Starbucks also plans to complete the installation of tumbler washers in most stores nationwide by the end of the year.

Jung Hyun Son, CEO of Starbucks Korea, stated, "The number of customers using personal cups continues to increase every year," and added, "We will continue to pursue ESG activities that provide meaningful benefits to customers, such as the No Single-Use Cup Day campaign and exclusive rewards."

Meanwhile, to celebrate surpassing 200 million personal cup uses, Starbucks is holding a special event for 10 days until December 19, during which customers can exchange 10 Stars for a free handcrafted beverage coupon. This coupon can be used for personal cup orders placed through Siren Order.

Additionally, the 100 customers who accumulated the most Eco-Star points in the first and second halves of this year will be selected to receive three types of upcycled products: an upcycled coffee bean pouch, an upcycled milk carton notebook, and an upcycled coffee grounds tray.

There will also be a special appreciation event for the 100 customers who used personal cups the most over the year, offering free beverages for one year (1 winner), one month (4 winners), or one week (95 winners).

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