New York Times
2/28/2017
The importance of the Clean Air and Clean Water EPA initiatives for New York City (and any living thing that breathes air or drinks water)
With the future of the E.P.A. now in doubt, it’s worth recalling what New York City was like before the agency and the movement it represented.
Note I just submitted to the Starbucks CONTACT US form, per recycling of their coffee bags (PS: you can’t recycle their coffee bags):
Dear Starbucks,
I just Googled “How to recycle Starbucks coffee bags,” and found this link: https://www.starbucks.com/responsibil…/environment/recycling
While I appreciate what is written there and that recycling depends on many factors and many of those factors are complicated and irritating, I’m really NOT willing to give you a pass on it. And, I don’t think Starbucks does nearly a good enough job on the recycling efforts.
For one thing, those layered foil and plastic coffee bags are not recyclable. Those bags do a good job containing the coffee, but does it REALLY seem right to you that a human being in 300 years will be able to go to a landfill and find that same coffee bag that was used to keep for coffee fresh for a relatively short period of time. Make your coffee bags recyclable. And make them from 100% post consumer waste.
You say in Europe, your plastic cups are comprised of 50% PCW, why not make those cups of 100% PCW EVERYWHERE? Or, make them biodegradable.
And not just the packaging for the product to consumer. You mention in the article that most of the waste generated is done so BEHIND the counter. Then do the same behind the counter. Demand that your suppliers package their products in packaging that is made of 100% post consumer waste and that that packaging is recyclable or biodegradable. Starbucks is a huge corporation. If you tell your suppliers what you want, they will provide it to you, or, you can be sure, some other company that wants your business will do it instead.
And provide PAPER straws. I love straws, but plastic straws are an environmental scourge. Have you seen this video:
This could just as easily have been a Starbucks straw as anyone else’s.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE, STARBUCKS! YOU CAN DO IT! And you can then take credit for it. If you make these changes, you could then brag about being part of the solution instead of being one of the biggest contributors to the problem.
It would take corporate WILL and DETERMINATION, PERSISTENCE and TENACITY. But, if you wanted to, YOU COULD do it. So do it!
Come on! I know it can be done.
Do it.
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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash
Every little PUT counts
ProjectPUT.org
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4/3/2018
Response from Starbucks within just an hour or so:
Hello Emily,
Thank you for contacting Starbucks. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughtful feedback. We are continually evaluating our commitments and how best to provide our customers the information they need to make informed decisions about their food and beverage choices.
Emily, I am glad to learn that there’s still people out there fighting to help our mother earth. Starbucks is committed to significantly reducing the waste our stores generate – especially when it comes to recycling.
We know this is important to our customers, to us and our planet. In fact, we get more customer comments about recycling than any other environmental issue – especially when it comes to our cups.
To learn more about our work in recycling, please visit https://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/environment/recycling.
Thanks again for writing us. If you ever have any questions or concerns in the future, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Sincerely,
Luis F.
Starbucks Customer Care
Writing and Calling Companies About Their Packaging
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