Custom term paper on Starbucks: Going green

Today environmental concerns are among major challenges not only for the state but also for private companies. Some companies seek to provide the least negative impact on the environment during their activities. In support of this is the company Starbucks – the world’s largest coffeehouse chain, which has more than 16 thousand restaurants around the world, and which actively supports the initiatives of preservation of ecology of the planet.
The company has been actively involved in community issues and the environment, as reflected in the company’s mission: “Our concern for the environment begins with the wording of our mission, which was adopted in 1992”. (Starbucks company)
The company follows the program “Starbucks Shared Planet” ™ – it is a measure that the company takes in conjunction with consumers and the farming communities to set standards for responsible business and create a better future for all.
“This program is based on three commitments: to produce our coffee in an ethical manner, carefully treat the environment and actively participate in the life of our farming communities” – so reads the task of environmental mission Starbucks. (Starbucks company)
All the environmental initiatives of the company were consolidated into the socio-humanitarian program Shared Planet, will run until 2015. By that time the company intends to implement a number of measures aimed at reducing the negative impact of institutions on the network environment, using the rational use of natural resources and energy. The draft Shared Planet involve all countries where the network is represented Starbucks.
One of the points of the program involves the active use of technology of recycling – this is a Starbucks’ contribution to solving the problem of environmental pollution with inorganic wastes. In 2006 the company began to produce disposable cups, 10% consisting of a second recycled paper fibers. According to experts Starbucks, it would help to save about 200 thousand trees. By 2015, all institutions of the network switch to the use of reusable or recyclable utensils to be. Thus, in the line of branded products Starbucks appeared new kind of cups – recycled-Tumbler, that on 83% consist of recycled and recyclable. (Starbucks Shared Planet )customterm paper
Yet another global challenge facing the network is to minimize the consumption of water and electricity. It is planned that by the year 2010 Starbucks coffee shops will increase energy efficiency by 25%, and used their energy to 50% will be renewable, against the current 22% – according to the EPA. (Green Power Partnership EPA )
With this indicator, Starbucks took third place in the ranking of the 20 largest retail companies in the U.S. who use renewable energy, followed by “Whole Foods Market” and network “Kohl’s Department Stores”. Moreover, all the new stores the company will have to obtain a certificate for compliance with environmental safety. Specific requirements Starbucks will bring to farmers supplying coffee.
A key project of green coffee network is aimed at conservation of tropical forests due cultivation of coffee in the shade, under cover of trees (such programs are already being implemented in Sumatra, Indonesia and Mexico). According to the Starbucks, this method long been known, but since the 1970’s to increase the yield of coffee plantations, most farmers cut down trees. In addition, nonprofit environmental organization Conservation International, which Starbucks is actively cooperating for several years, notes that due to tropical deforestation carbon dioxide in the atmosphere builds up faster. Growing coffee in the shade to minimize soil erosion, preserve forests and biological diversity in general in the area of plantations.
In the future, Starbucks plans to expand its range due to organic coffees. According to the rules of certification agencies to get the U.S. labeled “organic” on the package may be only that product, which is produced in an environmentally safe method without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetically modified organisms. While in this range Starbucks represented only one kind of organic coffee – Organic Ethiopia Yergacheffe.
Starbucks actively seeks opportunities to minimize impacts on the environment and create a healthy planet: “Taking action to reduce waste in the production and processing, we can preserve the natural resources of land and raise living standards around the globe.” (Starbucks company)