Maya Ellison
Starbucks has recently introduced new plastic cup sizes for cold drinks, which are called tall, grande, venti, and trenta. These cups are designed to be more sustainable and use 10-20% less plastic than previous versions. The move is part of Starbucks' efforts to reduce waste by 50% by 2030 and is expected to keep approximately 13.5 million pounds of plastic out of landfills annually. The new cups also feature accessibility enhancements, such as raised dots for size differentiation and embossed letters indicating the cup size.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the plastic cup sizes | Tall, Grande, Venti, and Trenta |
| Amount of reduced plastic use | 10-20% |
| Annual emissions saving | Equivalent to taking about 5,200 cars off the road |
| Annual water conservation | Equivalent to about 2,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools |
| Annual plastic conservation | More than 13.5 million pounds |
| Lid standardization | All sizes except Trenta now share the same lid |
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What You'll Learn
Starbucks' plastic cup sizes: tall, grande, venti, and trenta
Starbucks offers a variety of drink sizes, with distinct names for their plastic cups: tall, grande, venti, and trenta. These sizes have evolved over time, with the original options being short, tall, and grande. The introduction of the larger venti size reshuffled the lineup, making tall the new "short" and removing the original short size from the menu. Starbucks has since added even larger sizes, with the introduction of the trenta.
The tall cup at Starbucks holds 12 fluid ounces and is considered the smallest size on the regular menu. It is equivalent to two cups of standard six-ounce coffee. Interestingly, the use of the word "tall" for this size has been described as a classic example of corporate language manipulation, as it rhymes with "small" but refers to a larger quantity.
The grande size comes next, containing 16 fluid ounces of any hot or cold beverage. Grande espresso drinks contain two shots of espresso and are equivalent to two and a half cups of coffee. The word "grande" is derived from the Italian word for "large."
The venti size is available in two variations: hot and cold. A hot venti contains 20 fluid ounces, while a cold venti contains 24 fluid ounces. The larger size of the cold venti accommodates ice, ensuring customers receive the same amount of beverage. The word "venti" is derived from the Italian word for "twenty."
Finally, the trenta is the largest size offered by Starbucks, containing 31 fluid ounces. It is only available for specific iced beverages, such as iced coffee, tea, and cold brew. The name "trenta" comes from the Italian word for "thirty."
It is worth noting that Starbucks has introduced new, more sustainable cold cups for these sizes, using up to 20% less plastic. These cups feature accessibility enhancements, such as raised dots to indicate size for individuals with low visibility, and embossed letters to help baristas quickly identify the cup size.
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Starbucks' sustainability goals
Starbucks has outlined several sustainability goals as part of its "Environmental Promise: Give More Than We Take". The company is committed to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future, addressing its climate, water, and waste footprints. Here are some of Starbucks' key sustainability goals and initiatives:
Reducing Waste and Plastic Usage
Starbucks aims to reduce its waste by 50% by 2030. To achieve this, the company introduced new cold cups made with 10% to 20% less plastic. These cups, including the tall, grande, venti, and trenta sizes, will keep approximately 13.5 million pounds of plastic out of landfills annually. Starbucks also redesigned the 12-ounce tall cup to have a wider mouth, allowing all sizes except the trenta to share a lid, reducing waste and storage space.
Greener Stores and Certifications
Starbucks has certified thousands of "Greener Stores" that meet rigorous standards across eight environmental impact areas: water stewardship, partner engagement, energy efficiency, waste diversion, renewable energy, responsible materials, and sites and communities. In 2024, they certified 6,091 Greener Stores, with plans to expand the program internationally.
Reusable and Returnable Cups
Starbucks is encouraging the use of reusable cups by offering a $0.10 discount to customers who bring their clean, personal cups for orders. They are also testing models for reusable and returnable cups, where customers can borrow a cup from a kiosk at participating locations, return it after use, and have it professionally sanitized for the next customer.
Sustainable Sourcing and Ethical Practices
Starbucks prioritizes ethical sourcing, with 98% of its coffee being ethically sourced and verified in 2022. They are committed to human rights and giving back to the planet. The company has invested $5 million in organizations serving young people of color in the US and achieved perfect scores on the Disability Equality Index and the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.
Reducing Carbon Emissions
Starbucks is working to reduce its carbon footprint by promoting climate-resistant coffee tree varietals and protecting at-risk forests in key coffee-growing regions. They are also equipping farmers with precision agronomy tools to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, Starbucks China opened its first energy-efficient and sustainable coffee manufacturing and distribution center, the China Coffee Innovation Park, in September 2023.
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Starbucks' reusable cup initiatives
Starbucks has been working on several initiatives to reduce waste and encourage the use of reusable cups. The company has set a goal to reduce its waste output by 50% by 2030 and has introduced various measures to achieve this.
One of the key initiatives is allowing customers to use their own personal cups for their drinks. This option is available for in-store, drive-through, and mobile orders across the US and Canada. Starbucks has also conducted successful tests in Colorado and California, where customers could bring their own cups or borrow reusable cups from the store, with incentives such as prizes and rewards for returning the borrowed cups.
Starbucks has also redesigned its cups to be more environmentally friendly. The new cold cups use 10-20% less plastic, and the company has also introduced compostable straws and recyclable lid stickers. Additionally, Starbucks has made changes to the cup design, such as standardising the lid size for most cup sizes, reducing the number of different lids needed and thus decreasing waste and storage requirements.
These initiatives are part of Starbucks's long-term commitment to sustainability and reducing waste. The company has been working towards making it easier for customers to choose reusable options and reduce the environmental impact of single-use cups.
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Starbucks' Greener Stores certification
Starbucks has made a commitment to designing, building, and operating 10,000 "Greener Stores" globally by 2025. The "Starbucks Greener Stores" framework, launched in 2018, is a global, open-sourced green building program co-developed with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It aims to accelerate the shift to lower-impact stores that reduce carbon emissions, water usage, and waste sent to landfills.
The framework is built on the foundation of the LEED certification program and sustainable operations, offering a comprehensive model with performance-based standards that are universal in design but tailored to the retail industry. The key areas of focus for "Starbucks Greener Stores" are:
Energy Efficiency and Water Stewardship
By deploying innovative technologies and practices, the goal is to achieve 30% water savings and 25% energy avoidance compared to traditional store design methods. This will significantly reduce the environmental footprint of Starbucks stores worldwide.
Renewable Energy
Starbucks is committed to powering its stores with 100% renewable energy by investing in country-specific solar and wind projects. This transition to renewable energy sources will help reduce the company's reliance on fossil fuels and decrease its carbon emissions.
Healthy Environment
The company aims to design and operate its stores to create a pleasant and healthy environment for both partners and customers. This includes considerations of lighting, noise levels, air quality, and temperature to promote wellness and a comfortable experience for all.
In addition to the "Greener Stores" initiative, Starbucks is also taking steps to reduce waste by introducing more sustainable cups for cold drinks, which use 10-20% less plastic. These new cups will not only reduce plastic waste but also conserve water and reduce emissions, bringing the company closer to its 2030 resource-positive goals.
Starbucks is also encouraging customers to bring their clean, personal cups for in-store and drive-through orders, offering a small discount and reward incentives for those who do so. These initiatives demonstrate Starbucks's commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact.
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Starbucks' labour controversies
Starbucks, the world's largest coffee chain, has faced several labour controversies in recent years, including lawsuits, worker walkouts, and unionization efforts. The company has been accused of unethical labour practices, including the use of suppliers who engage in abusive and unsafe labour practices, such as garnishing wages, not providing clean drinking water or personal protective equipment, and employing underage workers.
In 2024, Starbucks was sued by a US consumer group, the National Consumers League, which alleged that the company had engaged in labour and human rights violations in the making of its products. The lawsuit claimed that Starbucks had misled consumers by marketing its coffee and tea products as "100% ethically sourced" while sourcing from suppliers with documented severe human rights and labour abuses. The group's CEO, Sally Greenberg, stated that Starbucks was telling consumers a lie on every bag of coffee and box of K-cups sold.
These controversies have sparked a broader conversation about the ethical responsibilities of corporations and the importance of fair employment practices. Starbucks customers have expressed mixed reactions, with some questioning their loyalty to the company, while others remain unfazed by the lawsuits.
In addition to the lawsuits, Starbucks has faced worker walkouts and unionization efforts at hundreds of its US stores since 2021. In November 2022, workers at over 200 locations staged a walkout on Red Cup Day, one of the busiest days of the year, to demand better staffing and pay. The company has also been accused of anti-union activities, including closing 23 stores to discourage unionization, resulting in a complaint filed by the National Labor Relations Board.
Starbucks has denied the allegations, stating that it takes the claims seriously and plans to defend itself against the lawsuits. The company has also asserted its commitment to ethical sourcing and labour law adherence, claiming that its sourcing practices are "best in class".
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Frequently asked questions
The plastic cup sizes at Starbucks are called tall, grande, venti, and trenta.
Starbucks plans to use 10-20% less plastic with its new cups.
Starbucks is encouraging customers to use reusable cups for their drinks by offering a $0.10 discount and 25 Bonus Stars for Starbucks Rewards members. They have also certified 6,091 Greener Stores in 2024 and are aiming to reduce their waste by 50% by 2030.
