Starbucks commits $10M for greener coffee cup
by The Associated Press
The Seattle coffee chain is calling on entrepreneurs to help it develop more sustainable cup solutions. Inventors with the best ideas will receive accelerator grants
SEATTLE—Starbucks is making a $10 million commitment to develop a greener coffee cup that is fully recyclable and compostable.
The company on Tuesday announced the NextGen Cup Challenge initiative in partnership with Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, an investor in sustainable consumer goods. The goal is to give cups a second life and keep them from landfills.
Inventors will receive grants.
Starbucks says its paper cups are currently manufactured with 10 per cent post-consumer recycled fiber. The inside is coated with a thin liner designed to meet quality and safety standards.
The company’s research and development team is testing a new bio-liner, made partially from plant-based material.
Starbucks annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday features a coffee tasting featuring small sample cups that are fully recyclable in Seattle.
