Following Shanghai's First Starbucks "Greener Store," the Second Green Location Opens in Suzhou!

On January 14, China's second Starbucks Green Store opened in Suzhou, following the country's first "Green Store" in Shanghai, known as Xianglu Gongfang.

Starbucks had previously announced that it would open 60 certified "Green Stores" across mainland China over the next year, gradually extending the standard to all new and renovated stores on the mainland as a contribution to the low-carbon path of China's retail industry and the wider world. The opening of this second "Green Store" marks the start of that nationwide build-out.

What Is the "Green Store" Certification System?

The certification system was developed jointly by Starbucks and authoritative institutions and represents the highest level of LEED green building certification. It covers areas such as energy conservation, water conservation, and waste management. Certified stores must use energy-efficient appliances, 100% mercury-free LED lighting, and low-flow faucets, and must follow waste sorting practices.

In addition, 100% of the coffee grounds a store generates are put to use, and employees' aprons are made from recycled PET beverage bottles. This Suzhou Green Store goes further by purchasing green electricity through the National Green Certificate Subscription Platform, maximizing its use of renewable energy.

Sustainable Interior Design

The interior is constructed from recycled, recyclable, or biodegradable materials. Wood collected from renovations of other Starbucks stores across the country is used for tabletops, and recycled red bricks form the table legs. Starbucks says the design makes the furniture easy to disassemble and reassemble in the future.

Compared with other Starbucks stores of similar size, a "Green Store" cuts annual carbon emissions by roughly 10.57 tons and saves about 301.7 tons of water. Across 60 stores, that would reduce carbon emissions by about 634.2 tons and save about 18,102 tons of water each year.

Environmental Efforts Beyond the Green Stores

Beyond the "Green Store" program, Starbucks has long encouraged customers to bring their own cups, reducing the use of disposable paper cups and the environmental pollution caused by their plastic film linings. China's first certified "Green Store," Xianglu Gongfang, also pioneered the use of paper straws and strictly implemented waste sorting, setting an example for other Starbucks stores and for the wider food and beverage industry.

Image source: Internet

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