Japan’s first Starbucks Greener Store is set to open its doors tomorrow as part of the brand’s expansion plan of Greener Store Framework, further reaching its global resource-positive goals.
The Wadakura Fountain Park Store follows the launch of a Greener Store in Shanghai in September, the first Greener Store in Asia.
Located in the Outer Gardens of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, the Greener Store Japan is designed to cut its in-store waste by 40 per cent, carbon emissions by 30 per cent and water consumption by 20 per cent compared to other Starbucks stores.
“Our Greener Stores allow us to test and learn how we can build and operate even more sustainable stores and inspire our partners and customers to adopt more eco-conscious behaviours,” said Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks.
“Our first Greener Store in Japan expands on recent innovations in the market, and is a testament to the passion and energy of our partners in creating solutions to reduce our environmental impact.”
The company said about 85 per cent of construction materials used to build the store have been recycled, and 15 per cent of materials recycled into biomass fuel. Waste materials were repurposed for the store interior, such as artwork using recycled canvas and fishing nets, floor tiling made from coffee grounds, and refurbished furniture made to last.
In addition, the store will reduce carbon emissions and water consumption by introducing renewable energy-powered cleaning stations and innovative water circulation systems that recycle more than 98 per cent of the water used for washing hands.
At the store, customers will join the brand’s sustainable journey through its reusable to-go cup program by providing a stainless-steel tumbler for to-go orders, which can be collected at the stores, sanitised, and reused.
“Through this new store experience, we hope to inspire our customers to join us in reducing waste, leading to planet-positive business operations, and making steady progress together towards the realisation of a sustainable society,” said Takafumi Minaguchi, CEO at Starbucks Japan.
The Greener Store Framework is part of Starbucks’ global goal to reduce carbon emissions, water usage, and waste sent to landfills by 50 per cent by 2030. Starbucks currently operates more than 2300 Greener Stores in the US and Canada, with plans for 10,000 globally by 2025.
