Starbucks goes greener by recycling muffins
The coffee chain is introducing an innovative program in Hong Kong.
By Alyssa Oursler
Starbucks (SBUX) is trying to reduce its environmental footprint in Hong Kong by testing a new recycling process that will turn old, stale baked goods and old coffee grounds into bio-plastics and laundry detergent.The program aims to prevent nearly 5,000 tons of leftovers from being dumped into landfills, incinerated or composted.
This isn't the company's first attempt to lessen its environmental impact. Earlier this summer it debuted a greener hot-cup sleeve, called the Earthsleeve, which is said to help save about 100,000 trees.
It's also not the company's first attempt this year to try something new. It has added lots of scattered new offerings lately in an attempt to appeal to everyone.
It batted its eyelashes at the on-the-go crowd by adding vending machines and introducing its own single-serve machine. It also announced the new option of paying by smartphone.
Is the company trying to do too much to appeal to too many demographic groups?
InvestorPlace editor Jeff Reeves, in "Serving a venti cup of desperation," berated the company for its lack of focus. Assistant editor Marc Bastow, on the other hand, took the other side with "Starbucks gets creamed for growing -- and that ain't right" after shares of SBUX got hit after an earnings miss.
Still, you can't really argue with the company's strong hold on the coffee industry, despite players like Dunkin Donuts (DNKN), McDonald's (MCD) and Caribou Coffee (CBOU).
And you can't argue with the company's 32% gains since January.
As of writing this, Alyssa Oursler did not own a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
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Part of the story begs the question; If they can be used to make plastics, just what the hell is in them to begin with??
Would it not be better if they brought them off the shelves a day or two earlier and just GAVE them to people that are hungry? Failing that, could they not give them to farmers for animal feed? Even the composting is better than making "plastics" out of them.
The American way is about developing, innovating, thinking outside old school boundaries... Imagine: Starbucks makes money, innovates, and is a responsible corporate citizen. You can have it all.. Profit, environmentally sounds principles, and a better life through invention. This is what made America great, folks..
DISCLAIMER: Starbucks is very liberal and i am a very conservative republican. Although i do not agree with Howard Schultz and his liberal leanings ,i still applaud his incredible business acumen and true innovative spirit. He is a legend and a true American creator.
I am so tired of the "Go Green" crap! The earth is not going to implode on its self if you use paper or other products from a renewable recourse such as trees! I don't want someone else's recycled old garbage. When I buy something, I want to be the first to have used it! If Starbucks produces so much waste from unsold merchandise, may be the manager who allows such waste to occur should be replaced with someone that can count and oversee a proper inventory...
Idiots!
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