Starbucks Introduces Compostable Takeaway Cups In Europe – CoffeeTalk

Starbucks has launched a new white takeaway cup in Europe, replacing its plastic lining with a mineral-based coating and single-use plastic lids with fibre alternatives. The cup is certified home compostable and widely recyclable, with the lid and cup being recyclable in recycling bins or composted at home. The redesigned cup was created using traceable wood fiber from Northern European forests and a mineral-based coating developed in Brescia, Italy. The hot cup and lid solution will gradually be rolled out in stores across select European markets this year, starting in Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and the UK and Ireland later this year.

In February, Starbucks re-introduced its practice of allowing baristas to handwrite messages on to-go coffee cups, serving ‘for here’ beverages in ceramic cups, and offering free refills in its cafés. This move aims to entice consumers back to stores, improve their on-site experience, and build a rapport with the server. In a Closed Loop Partners trial, Coca-Cola Company, Starbucks, PepsiCo, and others served reusable takeaway cups as the default, achieving a 51% return rate, suggesting environmental benefits for mandatory reuse. Over 220,000 cups were reportedly returned across the twelve-week program, with minimal contamination found in the return bins.

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