Green Next

Where do you buy your coffee? Does it really make a difference?  YES!

More companies are embracing Corporate Social Responsibility.  One of the biggest players is Starbucks, with the largest buying power of any coffee chain in the US.  On April 19^th, 2010 Starbucks released its 9^th annual Global Responsibility Report, outlining the company’s performance in ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship and community involvement (1).  So what exactly has one of the largest coffee companies in America been doing to improve their impacts on the community, economy, and environment?

Starbuck’s trademark “Shared Planet” program concentrates on the community, the environment and ethical sourcing.   

Starbucks Community Involvement:

Through the community program Starbucks has created a number of programs to encourage community involvement.  Through the program Starbucks encourages young people to take action through youth action grants and partnering with “Youth Venture” and the “International Youth Foundation, where young people help communities and gain leadership skills.  The community program also supports the Ethos water fund; from every bottle of water that is purchased Starbucks donates 5 cents to the program that goes to support water, sanitation and hygiene education programs in water-stressed countries.  The Starbucks Red program helps support people suffering with HIV/AIDS in Africa, when a customer purchases a Red product they are helping fund the program.  Starbucks also helps fund social development projects in communities that supply their coffee as well as education in China and support for rebuilding efforts on the golf coast where hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit.  Although community service hours from employees and customers decreased in 2009 Starbucks is looking at new ways to reach their goal of 1 million community service hours per year by 2015 

Starbucks Environmental Stewardship: 

Starbucks efforts in Environmental Stewardship involve goals in the areas of energy conservation, water conservation and waste reduction.  In terms of waste reduction their goal is to have recycling available in all of their stores where they control waste collection and serve 25% of beverages in reusable cups.  The consumer saves 10 cents on a cup of coffee if they use a reusable cup. They are also exploring different options for recyclable cups. By the end of 2010 Starbucks aims to reduce energy usage by 25% as well as purchasing 50% of their energy from renewable sources. All new company owned properties plan to be LEED® certified, green building. The water conservation goal is to reduce water usage by 25% in company-owned stores beginning in late 2015.   

Starbucks Ethical Sourcing: 

At Starbucks ethical sourcing starts with the farmer.  Conservation international has helped Starbucks develop “Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E)” practices that help farmers grow coffee in a way that’s better for people and the planet.  It measures standards in the following key areas; product quality, economic accountability (transparency), social responsibility (safe, fair and humane working conditions) and environmental leadership (conserve water, energy, biodiversity and reduce chemical usage).  Starbucks also purchases Fair Trade Certified coffee that empowers small scale farmers to compete in a global market, while helping their communities and protecting the environment.  Beginning in 2009 Starbucks worked with Conserve International to help reduce carbon emissions, adapt to climate change and began a pilot program to for forest conservation incentives in Latin America.  Starbucks also applies ethical sourcing to teas, cocoas and other goods.   

So, the answer is yes it does matter where you buy your coffee. Starbucks is the largest coffee chain in the US, with over 8000 locations across the country (2). 

Reference: 

1. Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ Goals and Progress Report 2009                http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/learn-more/goals-and-progress 

2. “Counting Beans” June 11, 2006 L.A. Times Article; Jerry Hirsch                       http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/11/business/fi-peets11/2 

Earth Day is celebrated in thousands of communities on April 22nd every year.  This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day; the first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd, 1970.  Over 20 million Americans joined the demonstration.  The founder of Earth Day was Gaylord Nelson, a Democratic Senator from Wisconsin.  Senator Nelson envisioned an environmental demonstration or “teach-in” with a  goal to put environmental concerns on the political radar. In 1969 Gaylord hired Denis Hayes, who left Harvard after being selected by Senator Nelson, as the national coordinator of Earth Day.

The demonstration on April 22, 1970 was a success because it was organized by people on a grassroots level.  People everywhere were talking about it at the kitchen table.  This helped the celebration succeed at making environmental topics a priority nationwide.  It gave the population a venue to express their concerns about the environment, from air, water and the degradation of natural resources and land.  The grassroots initiative was one of the reasons why Earth Day succeeded; people were searching for a venue where they could come together and take action and they found it in Earth Day. 

Gaylord Nelson quote:

“It was truly an astonishing grassroots explosion, … The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy.”

To this day communities hold special events in honor of the day.  A rally in Washington, DC is expected to bring tens of thousands of people, including Director James Cameron.  Some Critics such as Alex Steffan from the online magazine “worldchanging” argue that the celebration of Earth Day has outlived its usefulness; he claims it may weaken environmental protection.  The fact still remains that Earth Day helped put Environmental issues on the political agenda and at the family kitchen table throughout the nation and continues to do so.  Earth Day grew to become more than just a demonstration; it has evolved over 40 years into something much bigger.  Earth Day is a day of action, where communities everywhere hold events and take action to protect the planet. The day of action has helped to change human behavior and develop important policies as well as the creation of the Government agency responsible for environmental affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).   It is believed that Earth Day is now the most celebrated and observed holiday in the world.

Celebrate Earth Day today, do your part to keep environmental protection on everyone’s mind.  Make everyday, EARTH DAY! 

Making the right decision, buying ENERGY STAR products

In 1992 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced the Energy Star program on a voluntary basis to promote energy efficient computers and monitors. The initiative grew to include major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, and many other products.  Energy Star products need to meet specific standards and specifications.  Products with the Energy Star label give you the same features and abilities as other similar products, but use less energy.       

How do products earn the Energy Star label?

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes specifications based on a set of principles.  The principles state that Energy Star products must use significantly less energy on a national scale and must have the same features and deliver the same results as their competitors while using less energy.  If an Energy Star product costs more initially, consumers must be able to recover the cost difference through energy savings.  The principles also encourage manufacturers to explore different suppliers for new technologies that are available.  In addition, performance and energy use must be tested and measured with the results clearly stated on a product label.  The label is to be placed in a highly visible location on the product.  Specifications are revised periodically to remain current, for example the 5^th revision of the Energy Star specifications for computers took effect in July 2009. 

The real question is why is it important for you to buy Energy Star products?

SAVE ENERGY & RESOURCES

You’ll be doing the world a favor by saving energy and natural resources, future generations will thank you for it! 

According to the “Refrigerator Retirement Calculator” on the Energy Star website, a 19.0-24.4 Cubic foot top freezer refrigerator built between 1992-1995 uses 1285 kWh/year.  By switching to an Energy Star refrigerator you can reduce energy consumption by over 65% to 411 kWh per year.

SAVE ON ENERGY BILLS

Products that meet Energy Star specifications are designed to save energy. This can reduce your usage of gas and electricity, thereby reducing your household bills.  According to EPA, about $40 billion is spent annually in the US to air condition buildings — one-sixth of all electricity generated in a year! ENERGY STAR qualified roof products reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in buildings, and can reduce energy bills by up to 50 percent. 

FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR HOME OWNERS 

Energy efficient products or renewable energy systems purchased for your home may be eligible for a federal tax credit.  Products such as biomass stoves, insulation, windows, doors, roofs, heating units, air conditioners and water heaters are eligible for a 30% of cost tax credit up to maximum of $1500. There are some conditions, rental units and new construction are not applicable and it must be your principle residence.  It’s important to note that not all Energy Star products are included in the tax credit. 

Energy Star gives citizens a chance to do what is best for the Environment, in a simple and accessibly format.  The Us Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed all of the work in order to make these choices easy for consumers. For more information visit www.energystar.gov