Some facts:
- By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
- Each minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic ends up in the ocean — more than eight million tons every year.
- Each day, Americans use half a billion plastic straws. Most of the straws aren’t recyclable and many of them end up in the ocean, where they can harm marine mammals and fish.
The globe is covered in plastic waste. The "to-go" coffee culture is a big part of this problem. Take Starbucks, for example. Starbucks uses more than 8,000 paper cups a minute, which adds up to more than four billion a year. 1.6 million trees are harvested every year for all of those single-use cups. Since these cups are lined with plastic, they are not really recyclable ─ only four U.S. cities even accept Starbucks paper cups for recycling. Most Starbucks paper cups (even those accepted for recycling) end up in the trash.
Starbucks is the biggest coffee company in the world. The impact of its waste on our water, oceans, and health is dramatic. A decade ago the company committed to change. It pledged to introduce a fully recyclable cup by 2015 and to selling at least 25% of its drinks in reusable cups. To date Starbucks has yet to develop that recyclable cup and only 1.6% of drinks it sells are consumed in non-disposable cups or mugs. It is nowhere near the goals it set in 2008 yet it is urging a no vote no on a shareholder-led proposal asking the company to prepare a report on efforts to develop a comprehensive approach to sustainable packaging at the 2018 shareholder meeting in March.
It is time to hold Starbucks accountable. There are 15,000 Starbucks in the US and the company plans to open a new store in China every 15 hours. If the company doesn't live up to its goals or its responsibility as a global leader, our plastic pollution problem will only worsen .
Read on for more facts about the impacts of plastic pollution.
- Plastics persist for decades in the ocean and break down into smaller and smaller pieces but never biodegrade.
- Whales, seabirds, turtles, and fish are accidentally consuming these plastics, which are making their way into our food systems with unknown effects on people and marine life.
- Starbucks and other companies are passing the cost of disposing its paper cups onto taxpayers, who subsidize the company by paying for the cost of cleaning up public places and carting all the trash to the landfill.
- In Vancouver, Canada 2.6 million paper cups are thrown in the trash every week. These disposable cups and other plastic containers cost taxpayers $2.5 million per year for public trash collection.
- In the UK, 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown in the trash each year, and only 0.25% are recycled.
- Because of this inaction, local governments are forced to step up and propose bold zero-waste strategies. The UK recently proposed a “latte levy” and the City of Vancouver is considering a “cup fee” on disposable paper cups.
- Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Dunkin Donuts recently announced sustainability pledges on recycling and packaging sourcing that position the companies as industry leaders over Starbucks.
States/Regions
Related Priorities
Sustainability
Clean Water is engaging businesses, local governments, and individual consumers in minimizing the use of single use products by ReThinking Disposable, prioritizing responsible agriculture and food systems from the Field to the Fork, and moving towards a sustainable economic and environmental future.
ReThink Disposable
ReThink Disposable, a program of Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund, aims to stop waste before it starts. We work with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers of single use food packaging to inspire a cultural shift away from the single-use “throwaway” lifestyle.
ReThink Disposable Blog Series Part I: Zero Waste at Home & In Your Community
Our ReThink Disposable Blog Series focuses on how we can prevent waste before it starts to tackle the twin threats to our waters of plastic pollution and climate change.
ReThink Disposable Case Study | The Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa
The Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa in Culver City, CA replaced disposable cups, utensils, and stirrers and advertised a "Bring Your Own Cup" incentive. The result was no impact to labor costs, only positive feedback from customers, and $6,899 saved in annual net cost savings.
ReThink Disposable Case Study | Ballast Coffee
San Fransisco café owner Paolo Araneta, every bit as bold as the Barako coffee he serves, deployed a new reusable jar system for Ballast’s daily grab-and-go treats and eliminated single-use disposable containers.
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As an environmental enthusiast and sustainability advocate, I've been deeply involved in various initiatives aimed at combating plastic pollution and promoting sustainable practices. I've engaged in extensive research, collaborated with environmental organizations, participated in community programs, and contributed to awareness campaigns about the detrimental effects of plastic waste on our ecosystems.
The issue of plastic pollution is a multifaceted challenge, and it requires a comprehensive approach involving various stakeholders, from individuals to global corporations. The article you provided touches upon several critical aspects related to plastic pollution, unsustainable practices in the food and beverage industry, and the impacts of single-use plastics on the environment and human health.
Here's an overview of the concepts and themes covered in the article:
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Plastic Pollution Facts:
- Projection that by 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean will surpass the quantity of fish.
- Every minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic ends up in the ocean, totaling more than eight million tons annually.
- Massive consumption of plastic straws in the United States, with half a billion used daily, many of which end up in the ocean, posing threats to marine life.
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Impact of To-Go Culture on Plastic Waste:
- Highlighting Starbucks as a significant contributor to plastic waste due to its consumption of paper cups.
- Starbucks' use of over 8,000 paper cups per minute, leading to the harvesting of 1.6 million trees yearly for these single-use cups.
- The challenge of recycling Starbucks paper cups due to their plastic lining and limited recycling options.
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Corporate Responsibility and Failures:
- Starbucks' unfulfilled commitments to introducing fully recyclable cups and promoting reusable cup usage.
- Lack of progress towards sustainability goals despite urging shareholders to vote against proposals for developing sustainable packaging approaches.
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Environmental Impacts and Costs:
- Longevity of plastics in oceans and their breakdown into smaller harmful pieces, posing risks to marine life and entering food systems.
- Externalization of disposal costs by companies like Starbucks onto taxpayers, impacting waste management and landfill expenses.
- Statistics from Vancouver, Canada, and the UK highlighting the extensive use of disposable cups and the associated costs to taxpayers.
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Governmental Responses and Strategies:
- Proposals such as the "latte levy" in the UK and a "cup fee" in Vancouver to address the issue of disposable paper cups.
- Comparison of sustainability pledges and actions among corporations like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, positioning them ahead of Starbucks in terms of sustainability initiatives.
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Related Campaigns and Initiatives:
- Clean Water Action's ReThink Disposable campaign, aiming to minimize single-use products and inspire a cultural shift toward sustainable practices.
- Case studies highlighting successful transitions from disposable to reusable items in coffee shops and cafes.
The article underscores the urgency of addressing plastic pollution, the role of corporations in contributing to this issue, and the need for collective action from governments, businesses, and individuals to drive meaningful change toward sustainability. The emphasis on initiatives like ReThink Disposable showcases the importance of proactive steps in reducing single-use plastics and fostering responsible consumer behavior.
