As of March, Starbucks has classified nearly 16 percent of its 38,587 cafes worldwide as “Greener Stores,” marking a significant stride towards sustainability. These locations adhere to rigorous standards for waste, energy, and water savings, reflecting Starbucks’ ongoing dedication to environmental responsibility. This number represents a substantial increase from April 2023 and brings the company more than halfway towards its goal of certifying 10,000 Greener Stores by the end of 2025. The majority of these stores (5,488) are in North America, with Starbucks aiming to continue this trend globally.
Expansion of Greener Stores
In Latin America and the Caribbean, all new Starbucks locations are constructed according to Greener Stores specifications. The company’s real estate team is actively assessing which other markets should follow suit. In the U.S., the implementation of Greener Stores practices has led to a 30 percent reduction in energy and water consumption, saving nearly $60 million in annual operating costs. This initiative is part of Starbucks’ broader corporate commitment to reduce emissions, water usage, and landfill waste by 50 percent by 2030.
Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks, emphasized that the vision is for all new stores to be built to Greener Stores specifications, with existing locations being retrofitted as necessary. “At this point, it really depends on the economics in different regions,” Kobori noted. “What I would say is that, generally, in North America, the economics work for new stores, to build them as greener stores.”
Inspired by LEED Certification
The Greener Stores framework, launched in September 2018 and co-developed with the World Wildlife Fund, builds on Starbucks’ investment in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. While LEED focuses on low-carbon construction processes and design, the Greener Stores framework emphasizes operational metrics. Starbucks has also helped create the LEED for Retail designation, further underscoring its commitment to sustainable building practices.
To ensure that stores operate according to these standards, Starbucks trains employees through the Starbucks Global Academy. This training helps uncertified locations consider changes to suppliers, services, or site design that could bring a store into compliance with the Greener Stores criteria.
Certification Requirements
To achieve Greener Store status, locations must pass an independent audit by SCS Global Services, verifying their investments and practices across eight environmental impact areas. These requirements include:
- Renewable Energy: Sourcing electricity from wind, solar, or other clean sources, or using on-site facilities like solar panels.
- Energy Efficiency: Implementing LED lighting, high-efficiency dishwashers and ventilation systems, and refrigerators with low global-warming-potential coolants.
- Water Reduction: Utilizing technologies and practices to minimize water usage.
- Health and Wellness: Ensuring air-quality systems, noise-level reduction, and temperature regulation for employees and customers.
- Responsible Materials: Using mercury-free lighting and reuse strategies.
- Waste Diversion: Employing reusable cups, totes, and participating in the Starbucks FoodShare program.
- Community Service: Engaging in local community service efforts.
- Electric Vehicle Charging: Providing on-site EV charging stations or green roofs.
Recognizing Excellence
The Starbucks location in Williamsburg, Virginia, was among six sites recognized as Greener Stores of the Year in March. This site exemplifies the Greener Stores initiative with features like renewable electricity from the local grid, an on-site rainwater collection system for landscape irrigation, and banquettes made from recycled wood.
Industry Influence and Future Outlook
The Greener Stores blueprint is becoming a standard among restaurant chains, particularly those under scrutiny from shareholders regarding their sustainability programs. Many prioritize passive architectural design measures to reduce energy consumption, such as maximizing natural lighting and selecting appropriately sized food prep and ventilation equipment for each location.
However, smaller retail organizations often struggle to justify the upfront costs of installing such technologies, according to Jeff Clark, director of business engagement on food safety, nutrition, and sustainability at the National Restaurant Association. For larger corporations with the resources to analyze and justify these investments, the financial and environmental paybacks make sense.
Starbucks’ Global Academy course is also available to suppliers and other retailers, helping them stay updated on the company’s procurement requirements and reducing the environmental impact of their real estate.
“We would love to see other retailers take a look at the standard and start using it,” said Kobori, highlighting Starbucks’ ambition to lead by example in the realm of sustainable retail practices.