The Starbucks Greener Stores framework is anticipated to save the company an incremental $50 million in utilities over the next 10 years.
SAN FRANCISCO—Starbucks Coffee Co. took the opportunity at the Global Action Summit on Thursday to announce a “Starbucks Greener Stores” framework and a commitment to design, build and operate 10,000 “Greener Stores” globally by 2025.
Company officials say the framework will be built upon comprehensive performance criteria that help ensure the company's approach to designing, building, and operating its company-owned stores sets a new standard for green retail. Starbucks will develop in the next year an accredited program to audit all existing company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada against the framework criteria. The program will then set out to develop 10,000 “Greener Stores” globally by 2025. That total will encompass existing stores, new builds and renovations.
“Simply put, sustainable coffee, served sustainably is our aspiration,” said Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Starbucks. “We know that designing and building green stores is not only responsible, it is cost effective as well. The energy and passion of our green apron partners has inspired us to find ways to operate a greener store that will generate even greater cost savings while reducing impact.”
The Starbucks Greener Stores framework is anticipated to save the company an incremental $50 million in utilities over the next 10 years. The program builds on Starbucks 10-year effort to achieve utility cost savings attributable to Greener Store practices, which has equated to approximately $30 million in saved annual operating costs.
The company did not divulge the cost of implementing the Greener Stores program.
Starbucks Greener Stores” framework will be co-developed by leading experts including World Wildlife Fund and will be audited and verified by SCS Global Services, a third-party verification organization that also oversees Starbucks Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices. This framework will be open-sourced to enable other retailers to engage in this initiative, the company notes.
In 2001, Starbucks joined with the U.S. Green Building Council to develop the LEED for Retail program, and in 2005 Starbucks opened its first LEED-certified store. Today, Starbucks operates more than 1,500 LEED-certified stores globally across 20 countries—including all 50 states and Puerto Rico—more than any other retailer in the world.
Starbucks Greener Stores program will focus on: energy efficiency and water stewardship, renewable energy, healthy environment, responsible materials, waste diversion and engagement.
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John Jordan
John Jordan is a veteran journalist with 36 years of print and digital media experience.
