Report of the Starbucks Coffee Co./Alliance for Environmental Innovation Joint Task Force

This report describes the results of a partnership between Starbucks and the Alliance for Environmental Innovation, formed in 1996 to study ways to cut waste and promote such environmentally responsible business practices as reusable coffee mugs, and better insulated paper cups that would reduce or eliminate the need for “double-cupping,” using two cups to provide adequate insulation for a hot beverage.

The 30-page report describes the various initiatives, including the less-than-successful effort to design an improved cup; the company opted instead to go with a paper sleeve to provide insulation. The report also describes the company’s efforts to introduce ceramic mugs for in-store beverage consumption, including the life-cycle analysis it conducted to weigh the options.