Starbucks will now fill customers’ own clean cups with their favorite drink, whether they’re ordering in-store, via mobile or at a drive-thru. The retailer has been testing the reusable model in multiple markets since 2021 and expanded the program to stores in 12 Northern California locations in August 2023, and it’s now available nationwide and in Canada.
“As we know, the most sustainable cup is likely the one you already own,” said Kate Daly, Managing Director and Head of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners in a statement. “Bringing your own cup to stores is a critical step toward reducing single-use packaging waste. Starbucks is a leader in this work, as the first national retailer of scale to offer personal cup ordering in every channel, including mobile order.”
The program, part of Starbucks’ commitment to reduce waste 50% by 2030, provides a 10-cent discount on the beverage and, in the U.S., 25 Bonus Stars for members of the Starbucks Rewards loyalty program. In a Starbucks location, customers can tell the barista that they’ve brought their own cup, or if they’re staying in the café they can request a reusable ceramic or glass cup at most stores.
In the drive-thru, after telling the barista that they’ve brought their own cup, it’s collected using a contactless vessel to ensure hygiene and safety, and returned the same way. The same contactless exchange will take place with mobile orders when customers select “Personal Cup” in the customization menu on the Starbucks app.
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To ensure the drinks are the right size and are mixed correctly, behind the counter Starbucks will use new custom beverage craft smallware with standardized lines baristas need for measurements. The beverage will then be poured into the customer’s cup and finished with requested toppings. For safety purposes, baristas will not be permitted to rinse dirty cups that a customer provides.
Starbucks has been supporting sustainability on multiple fronts: in June 2023 the retailer announced plans to open a sustainability and innovation center in Costa Rica, and in December 2023 Starbucks and Volvo partnered to provide EV charging spots along the 1,350-mile route between Denver and Seattle.
