GROUP 2 - ADSOTHICS

T H E

GREEN WASHING

O F STARBUCKS ADISA NAIRA (2206046222)

DIVA NAJWA SALSABILLA (2206046323)
MARITZA CANNI SHIFA TABINA (2206046424)
NANDA BERLIANA TRI NASTITI (2206821342)
What
Starbucks' introduction of a "more sustainable" strawless lid is a classic
example of greenwashing, which means pretending to be more environmentally
friendly than they really are. In the case of Starbucks' strawless lid, They're
making it seem like this new lid is a big deal for the environment, but it might
not be as good as they claim. Instead of looking at the bigger picture, they're
focusing on one small change. This might make you think they're doing more
for the environment than they actually are. Greenwashing is like trying to look
good on the outside when you're not that great on the inside.
Who?
STARBUCKS
The
Greenwashing
In 2020, Starbucks unveiled a prototype for its new eco-friendly beverage cup, which is fully recyclable and
compostable. While this sounds like a promising alternative to traditional cups, it remains to be seen whether
Starbucks can stem the tide of waste that it has helped generate

In 2021, Starbucks came under fire for its Earth Month initiative. Vegan charity PETA accused Starbucks of
"greenwashing" since it refused to drop the surcharge for its non-dairy alternatives despite acknowledging
that cow's milk is the company's biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions

In 2022, a TikTok user accused Starbucks of "greenwashing" after a barista used a disposable plastic cup to
pour a drink into their reusable tumbler. The user labeled this "greenwashing" and questioned Starbucks'
commitment to reducing waste

In 2023, Clean Water Action accused Starbucks of contributing to the plastic pollution problem. Starbucks
pledged to introduce a fully recyclable cup by 2015 and to sell at least 25% of its drinks in reusable cups, but to
date, it has yet to develop that recyclable cup and only 1.6% of drinks it sells are consumed in non-disposable
cups or mugs
Analysis
on ethical considerations
Transparency: Starbucks has been criticized for not being transparent about its sustainability efforts.
For example, in 2018, Starbucks did not respond to a questionnaire about its environmental reporting.
This lack of transparency raises questions about the company's commitment to sustainability.

Honesty: Starbucks has pledged to introduce a fully recyclable cup by 2015 and to sell at least 25% of its
drinks in reusable cups[1]. However, as of 2023, only 1.6% of the drinks that Starbucks sells are consumed
in recyclable or reusable cups[1]. This suggests that Starbucks has not been honest about its progress
towards its sustainability goals.

Fairness: Starbucks charges a surcharge for its non-dairy alternatives, despite acknowledging that
cow's milk is the company's biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions. This raises questions about the
fairness of Starbucks' pricing strategy and whether it is truly committed to reducing its carbon
footprint.

Responsibility: Starbucks has been accused of 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. This raises questions about Starbucks' responsibility to the environment and to
society as a whole.
Conclusion
They should not upsell! Try giving relevant
promotion materials, and improve their actual
product quality to be environmental friendly.
To rebuild trust and credibility in its
sustainability initiatives, Starbucks must
reassess its practices, prioritize
transparency, and demonstrate a more
robust commitment to reducing its
environmental footprint and fulfilling its
societal obligations.
Citation
Melchionne, L. (2023). Is Starbucks sustainable? Impakter. https://impakter.com/is-
starbucks-sustainable/
Analysis Of Starbucks Coffee: Green Or Greenwashed | 123 Help Me. (n.d.).
https://www.123helpme.com/essay/Analysis-Of-Starbucks-Coffee-Green-Or-
Greenwashed-765025
Starbucks and our plastic pollution problem. (n.d.). Clean Water Action.
https://cleanwater.org/starbucks-and-our-plastic-pollution-problem
Courtni. (2012). Reusable cups at Starbucks: Ethical consumption for coffeeholics.
Courtni Vecchiarelli. https://www.courtniv.com/starbucks-cups-ethical-
consumption-for-coffeeholics/
How ethical is Starbucks Corporation? | Ethical Consumer. (2020, May 8). Ethical
Consumer. https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/starbucks-
corporation
Smithers, R. (2020, September 23). Starbucks introduces reusable cups. The
Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/apr/19/starbucks-coffee-
resuable-cups
Thank
You!