Starbucks will let customers use their own cup at the drive-thru
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Starbucks customers can now use their own personal cup in stores as well as for mobile orders and at the drive-thru.
The initiative is part of the brand’s goal to reduce waste by 50% by 2030. Customers have been able to use their own cup when ordering in Starbucks cafes since the 1980s. Now, they can also use their own clean cup at the drive-thru and for mobile orders.
“At Starbucks, we envision a future where every beverage can be served in a reusable cup,” said Michael Kobori, Starbucks chief sustainability officer.
All size options — short, tall, grande and venti — are included for hot, iced and blended beverages.
“As we know, the most sustainable cup is likely the one you already own.
“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,” said Kate Daly, managing director and head of the center for the circular economy at Closed Loop Partners.
Starbucks will now allow customers to use personal cups in all orders, including drive-thru and mobile orders, as part of the Seattle coffee goliath’s efforts to reduce its waste output driven largely by its iconic disposable coffee cups. pic.twitter.com/PwsLJ0e39E
— Forbes (@Forbes) January 3, 2024
Customers at participating stores in the U.S. and Canada will receive a 10-cent discount on their beverage when they bring any clean cup. Starbucks rewards members will receive 25 bonus stars.
At the drive-thru, customers will tell the barista they brought their own cup. The barista will collect the cup — without the lid — “using a contactless vessel to ensure hygiene and safety. The beverage will be returned the same way.”
In the app, customers will select the “customization” option and select “personal cup.”
Baristas will prepare the beverage using “new, custom beverage craft smallware that has standardized lines partners need for measurements, before seamlessly pouring the beverage into customers’ personal cup, and adding any toppings.”
Dirty cups will not be accepted. Baristas will not rinse or clean your cup.