Starbucks has certified 3508 of its eco-friendly Greener Stores worldwide, expanding the program to 20 regions as part of its strategy to accelerate progress towards what it dubs “resource-positive targets”. 

With many first-in-market Greener Stores across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Starbucks is expanding the program into Latin America and the Caribbean by building all-new stores in the region under the Greener Stores framework by the end of this year and going forward.   

Greener Stores, according to Starbucks, is an example of how the company is aiming to lessen its environmental footprint and create a more sustainable future for its communities and the planet. The coffee giant plans to reach its target of 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025. 

“With a company of Starbucks scale – any one action, no matter how small, has the potential for massive impact,” said Michael Kobori, Starbucks’ chief sustainability officer.

Starbucks Greener Stores Framework, established in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund, consists of a collection of 25 performance-based standards spanning environmental impact areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship, and waste diversion. 

Each Greener Store offers a set of sustainable elements that contribute to its third-party verification. Solar panels or water recycling tanks are visible features in certain establishments. Others have less visible features including high-efficiency appliances, low-emitting paint and sealants, recycling tampers, and energy-efficient HVAC temperature systems behind the counter.  

Further reading: “We play the long game”: How Starbucks aims to reach 9000 stores in China