Saving the Planet One Cup of Tea at a Time

There is an undeniably strong, eye-opening smell when you open the door to any Starbucks. The combination of fresh brewed coffee and tasty baked pastries is just what I need to get moving in the morning, not to mention the caffeine in my tall non-fat chai. But it isn't the cup of delicious tea I want to focus on, it's the choice I had to have it served in a ceramic mug.

I have been going to Starbucks for years, but I don't remember anyone ever asking me if I would like my drink in a "for here" mug. But this morning, maybe because of yesterday's celebration of Earth Day, the man at the register offered me a real mug. I gladly accepted the offer and enjoyed my morning tea knowing that I made an environmentally conscious decision, even if it was a small one. As I handed over my debit card, the barista told me that if I brought in my own mug I could save 10 cents on my drink every visit. This isn't a new concept at Starbucks, just one that hasn't caught on in my neighborhood. After a quick look around the store I notice that everyone else had opted for the classic paper mug.

Ten cents doesn't sound like a big discount, but bringing your own mug has more benefits than the extra 10 cents you'll have for your next cup of coffee. Think of the impact you can make on the environment. Even though Starbucks' "to-go" paper mugs are partially made from recycled materials, bringing your own mug would help cut the amount of waste in our landfills. One person, who orders just one drink a week could keep 260 paper cups from ending up in landfills every five years. And that's just one drink a week, there are many people who start every work day with a trip to Starbucks. In five years, they could keep 1,300 paper cups from turning up in landfills.

If consumers start to follow suit with what Starbucks as a corporation is doing to help reduce its affect on the planet, the environment might have a fighting chance. According to Starbucks' website, in an effort to reduce its environmental footprint on the planet, Starbucks is addressing three high-impact areas: sourcing of coffee, tea and paper; transportation of people and products; and store design and operations (energy, water, waste reduction and recycling). In recognition of these environmental efforts, in 2006 Starbucks received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Green Power Partner of the Year" award. It's refreshing to know that a corporation as large as Starbucks understands its responsibility to the planet.

So, the next time you visit a Starbucks, remember to bring your mug along. You can save 10 cents, and more importantly, help save the environment.