Maya Ellison
Starbucks' plastic cups have come under scrutiny for their environmental impact and potential health risks associated with the presence of bisphenol A (BPA). While Starbucks has introduced incentives for customers to use reusable cups, concerns remain about the plastic lining in their single-use cups, which can mix with hot liquids and potentially cause health issues. Starbucks has responded by reducing plastic in their cold cups and leading a city-wide reusable cup project in California, but the challenge of finding a sustainable alternative to plastic-lined cups persists. With ongoing research and development, Starbucks aims to address these concerns and foster a more eco-friendly coffee culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic type | Polyethylene, polypropylene, or SAN |
| Plastic purpose | Provides durability and liquid-proofing |
| Plastic health concerns | Bisphenol A (BPA) can induce endocrine disruption and reproductive problems |
| Plastic environmental concerns | Single-use cups are an environmental headache due to their mix of paper and plastic, making them difficult to recycle |
| Starbucks initiatives | Starbucks is working on sustainable alternatives, such as reusable cups and cups with less plastic |
| Reusable cup initiatives | Starbucks led a city-wide project in California to make reusable cups the default option, providing incentives like discounts for customers who bring their own reusable cups |
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What You'll Learn
- Starbucks cups are lined with a thin layer of plastic, usually polyethylene or polypropylene
- Polypropylene is BPA-free, but it can leech harmful chemicals into your drink when filled with hot liquids
- Starbucks has introduced more sustainable cold cups with 10-20% less plastic, but they are still plastic-lined
- Starbucks is exploring reusable cups and incentivising customers to bring their own, but single-use cups remain prevalent
- Starbucks is piloting a city-wide reusable cup project in California, aiming to make reusable cups the default option
Starbucks cups are lined with a thin layer of plastic, usually polyethylene or polypropylene
Starbucks cups are lined with a thin layer of plastic to ensure that hot drinks don't leak through the paper cups and end up on customers' laps. This plastic lining is usually made from polyethylene or polypropylene, which provides durability and liquid-proofing. However, when hot liquids come into contact with this plastic, there is a risk of chemical leaching, with one particular chemical of concern being bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a compound commonly found in plastic items, and it has been linked to potential health issues such as endocrine disruption and reproductive problems.
The presence of plastic in Starbucks cups has raised environmental concerns as well. The mix of paper and plastic in the cups' composition makes them challenging to recycle, resulting in a significant number of these cups ending up in landfills or incineration facilities. Starbucks has recognized the issue and is actively exploring sustainable alternatives. They have introduced incentives for customers who bring their own reusable cups and are conducting tests to encourage the use of reusable cups, with the goal of making them the default option for to-go drinks.
In one such test, Starbucks is collaborating with the NextGen Consortium in Petaluma, California, to make reusable cups convenient and accessible. They are also working on reducing the plastic content in their cold cups, with new tall, grande, venti, and trenta cups using 10 to 20 percent less plastic. This reduction in plastic content will keep millions of pounds of plastic out of landfills annually.
Starbucks has also explored the possibility of influencing customers to change their behavior regarding waste and single-use cups. They have conducted over two dozen tests worldwide, with the Petaluma Reusable Cup project being unique in its extensive collaboration between public and private entities. The focus is on making reusable cups ubiquitous and convenient, with widespread return points and community-wide communications to support customers in building the habit of returning their cups.
While Starbucks has made strides towards sustainability, there is still room for improvement. As an industry leader, Starbucks has the capacity to drive tangible change and set an example for a more sustainable and eco-friendly coffee culture. The company is committed to making reusable cups the easy and everyday choice for its customers, and their ongoing initiatives demonstrate a recognition of the importance of environmental responsibility.
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Polypropylene is BPA-free, but it can leech harmful chemicals into your drink when filled with hot liquids
Starbucks cups are made from SAN plastic, which is a BPA-free variation of polycarbonate (PC) plastic. While polypropylene is also BPA-free, it has been the subject of some concern regarding its safety when heated.
Polypropylene is a popular plastic for various applications, including food containers, packaging materials, and housewares. It is strong, pliable, and inexpensive, making it ideal for products like bottles, cups, and packaging containers. It is also widely used in the automotive industry for parts such as battery cases and bumpers.
While polypropylene itself does not contain BPA, it is important to understand its behaviour when heated. Some people have expressed concerns about using polypropylene for hot beverages, especially tea, as it may affect the taste. Additionally, there are worries about the potential leaching of chemicals from polypropylene into hot liquids.
Indeed, studies have shown that plastic products, including those made from polypropylene, can leech toxic chemicals under realistic use conditions. These chemicals can induce oxidative stress responses, antiandrogenicity, and estrogenicity in vitro. However, it is worth noting that these studies involved migration experiments conducted at 40°C, which may not accurately represent the temperatures of hot liquids typically placed in cups.
To ensure the safest use of polypropylene products, it is recommended to follow a few guidelines. Avoid heating food or beverages directly in plastic products, and do not microwave plastic whenever possible. Additionally, look for plastic products labelled as "BPA-free" and avoid those with recycling codes 3 or 7, as they may contain BPA.
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Starbucks has introduced more sustainable cold cups with 10-20% less plastic, but they are still plastic-lined
Starbucks has been facing scrutiny over the use of plastic in its iconic coffee cups. The cups are lined with a thin layer of plastic, usually polyethylene or polypropylene, to prevent leaks. However, this plastic lining has been found to contain bisphenol A (BPA), a compound known for its potential health risks, including endocrine disruption and reproductive issues. The presence of BPA in the cups has raised concerns among consumers, prompting Starbucks to take steps towards more sustainable alternatives.
In February 2025, Starbucks introduced a new lineup of cold cups that are more sustainable and use 10-20% less plastic. This reduction in plastic content is expected to keep more than 13.5 million pounds of plastic from landfills annually. The new tall, grande, venti, and trenta-sized cups were designed based on feedback from customers and baristas, ensuring optimal performance and feel. Starbucks' innovation hub in Seattle played a crucial role in testing and researching the new cup design.
While the reduced plastic content in the new cold cups is a step in the right direction, it's important to note that these cups still contain plastic linings. Starbucks has acknowledged the environmental impact of its single-use coffee cups and is actively exploring sustainable alternatives. The company has conducted over two dozen tests worldwide to encourage the use of reusable cups and influence consumer behavior regarding waste reduction.
One notable initiative is the Petaluma Reusable Cup project in California, a city-wide collaborative reuse project where reusable cups are the default option for to-go drinks. Starbucks is working alongside other industry competitors, such as The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Peet's Coffee, to make reusables the cultural norm. The project aims to shape consumer habits and reduce the staggering number of single-use cups discarded each year, estimated at over 50 billion across the United States alone.
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Starbucks is exploring reusable cups and incentivising customers to bring their own, but single-use cups remain prevalent
Starbucks has been working to reduce its waste by encouraging the use of reusable cups and incentivising customers to bring their own. In 2024, the company announced that it would be the first national coffeehouse in the US to allow customers to bring their clean personal cups for all drinks and sizes, including drive-thru and mobile orders. This initiative has also been implemented in Canada and select European markets, with plans to expand further. Starbucks has conducted over 20 reusables tests in stores worldwide and continues to innovate with improved and reusable cup designs.
While Starbucks has made significant progress in promoting reusables, single-use cups remain prevalent. The company recognises the complexity of recycling and is committed to sharing a better cup with its customers. Starbucks works with haulers to collect and recycle cold cups and other recyclables, and encourages customers to recycle and separate waste carefully. To reduce waste, Starbucks has introduced a more sustainable cold cup with less plastic and compostable straws, and is moving away from lid stoppers towards recyclable lid stickers.
In Europe, Starbucks has redesigned its iconic white takeaway cup, introducing a widely recyclable and home compostable alternative. This new cup provides a packaging solution that complies with EU and UK legislation. Starbucks EMEA partners with Transcend Packaging, Qwarzo, and Metsä Board to introduce these innovations, demonstrating their commitment to reducing plastic waste.
Starbucks's plastic cups do not contain BPA. However, they do contain styrene, which is toxic, although it does not leech into drinks. Starbucks has made efforts to shift towards reusables and away from single-use plastics, but the prevalence of single-use cups remains an issue the company is working to address through incentives for reusable cups and improvements in recycling and packaging.
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Starbucks is piloting a city-wide reusable cup project in California, aiming to make reusable cups the default option
Starbucks has announced a pilot project in California, aiming to make reusable cups the default option for takeaway drinks. The project, led by Starbucks in collaboration with the NextGen Consortium, will run for three months, starting on 5 August 2024, in Petaluma, California. This project is an expansion of Starbucks' previous test in the same area, but this time, they are partnering with NextGen Consortium to drive systemic change. The focus is on making reusable cups convenient and ubiquitous, encouraging customers to build the habit of returning their cups.
During the pilot, eight Starbucks stores and a total of 30 restaurants and cafes in Petaluma will offer customers reusable cups for hot and cold beverages. These cups will be branded purple, with a white front and purple back, retaining the fill line markings specific to Starbucks' beverage recipes. Over 60 purple drop-off return bins will be located at Starbucks cafes and participating businesses throughout the city. The returned cups will be professionally cleaned, sanitized, and recirculated for reuse.
Petaluma was strategically chosen as the test market due to its dense downtown layout, high walkability, and overall climate supportive of reuse and policies phasing out single-use packaging. This project is unique in its extensive collaboration between public and private entities, including industry competitors, uniting for the greater good. More than two dozen local businesses and national chains, such as Peet's Coffee, Burger King, and Yum! Brands, will participate in this initiative to reduce waste.
Starbucks' pilot project aligns with their environmental promise to give more than they take. The company aims to eventually make all customer-facing packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable. This initiative also builds on Starbucks' previous efforts to explore ways to increase the use of reusable cups, with over two dozen tests worldwide, focusing on influencing customer behaviour to reduce waste. While this pilot project is a significant step forward, Starbucks acknowledges that change will not happen overnight.
In terms of the plastic cups used by Starbucks, there are some varying opinions online. Some sources indicate that Starbucks cups are made from plastic labelled as "Number 7", which typically indicates that they contain Bisphenol A (BPA). However, other sources claim that Starbucks uses SAN plastic, which is BPA-free, although it does contain styrene, which is toxic, but does not leech into drinks. Additionally, some personalised Starbucks cups advertised on Etsy are specifically marketed as BPA-free.
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Frequently asked questions
Starbucks cups are lined with a thin layer of plastic, which is usually polyethylene or polypropylene. This plastic lining contains bisphenol A (BPA), a compound commonly present in plastic items. Starbucks is actively searching for viable alternatives to these plastic-lined cups and has introduced more sustainable cold cups that use 10 to 20% less plastic.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound commonly found in plastic items. BPA has been linked to various health concerns, including endocrine disruption and reproductive problems.
The plastic lining in Starbucks cups provides durability and liquid-proofing, ensuring that hot drinks do not leak through the cup.
Starbucks has explored the use of reusable cups and has conducted over two dozen tests worldwide to encourage customers to adopt more sustainable practices. In 2024, Starbucks led a city-wide collaborative reuse project in Petaluma, California, where reusable cups were the default option for to-go drinks. Starbucks also offers incentives such as discounts for customers who bring their own reusable cups.
