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Starbucks Enhances Environmental Action! Eliminating Single-Use Cups and Introducing Washing Machines for Customers to Clean Their Own Cups

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, A year has quietly passed since Starbucks announced its plan to discontinue single-use cups. On March 6th of last year, Starbucks had already stated externally that it would completely stop using single-use cups in all Starbucks stores by 2025. This plan was initially implemented in Korea because, even before the pandemic, Korea had already

Starbucks' Plan to Phase Out Disposable Cups

It has been a year since Starbucks announced its plan to phase out disposable cups. On March 6th of last year, Starbucks had already publicly stated that it would plan to completely stop using disposable cups in Starbucks stores by 2025.

Initial Implementation in South Korea

This plan was initially implemented in South Korea, because before the pandemic, South Korea already had the concept of a "plastic restriction policy." However, due to the pandemic, this policy was suspended for over a year or two. It wasn't until this year that the South Korean government announced that it would implement the "plastic restriction policy" for major chain restaurants in June of this year.

As Starbucks' fifth-largest global market, South Korea has over 1,500 stores. Last year, following South Korea's "plastic restriction policy" plan, Starbucks proactively initiated actions to support the "plastic restriction policy." Starting in June of last year, Starbucks Korea began offering reusable cups, but customers needed to pay a "small deposit." After finishing use, customers could return the cups to contactless vending machines to get their deposit back.

Challenges and Adjustments

Due to the inconvenience, initial consumer reactions seemed lukewarm, with many finding it troublesome because they had to specifically go to contactless vending machines to return the cups. After receiving feedback, Starbucks and the South Korean government upgraded their approach. After consumers finished using the cups, they could return Starbucks cups to any Starbucks store to get their deposit back, with no time limit. They also stated that even cups found on the street could be taken to any Starbucks store for deposit return. However, this approach seemed somewhat unreasonable, as employees reported that it increased their workload, suggesting that return times should be specified during non-peak store hours.

Plan B: The "Borrow a Cup" Program

After this approach proved less feasible, Starbucks upgraded its environmental protection plan, implementing Plan B—the "Borrow a Cup" program—in stores across multiple locations including Seattle, Japan, Singapore, and London. Customers who wanted to take their beverages had to pay a $1 deposit before taking the cups away (quite the direct "mandatory enforcement"). However, as long as consumers returned the cups to any store after use, they could not only get their deposit back but also receive an additional reward of 10 stars (points). These stars, when accumulated to a certain amount, can be redeemed for partial beverages and food.

The difference between Plan A (implemented in South Korea) and Plan B was only the addition of star "rewards"; essentially, both were equally cumbersome. Therefore, consumer support for these initiatives in various regions seemed less than enthusiastic. Starbucks also realized that this approach was quite troublesome for both consumers and employees!

Plan C: Introducing Cup Washing Machines

And so! On Tuesday (March 15th), Starbucks' Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Kobori announced they had a new plan to encourage consumers to use reusable cups. This Plan C is different from A and B, as this plan introduces specialized cup washing machines. After finishing their drinks, consumers can take the cups to specialized washing machines to clean them and then take them away.

However, cups still require a deposit. Everyone believes that when cups become very old, they can return them to Starbucks and get their deposit back or exchange for a new cup. The plan to introduce "specialized cup washing machines" will initially be tested at stores on the Arizona State University campus and at some stores in the Hawaii region.

Public Response and Hygiene Concerns

Many netizens have responded to this initiative, acknowledging that it's environmentally friendly but inconvenient! Having to return cups back and forth when buying coffee at a coffee shop feels troublesome, and there are concerns about hygiene. In a previous discussion on the topic of "Starbucks reusable cups" initiated by Sina Technology, 32,000 people participated, with 20,000 not supporting Starbucks' reusable cup initiative due to hygiene concerns about reusable cups.

Regarding cup hygiene, as the world's largest coffee chain brand, Starbucks (Star Dad) pays great attention to this issue. On March 4th, 2020, due to concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus, Starbucks announced it would temporarily stop the use of personal cups in stores. This was the first time Starbucks had suspended the policy of customers bringing their own cups to purchase beverages since introducing the bring-your-own-cup policy in 1985.

Contradictory Approaches and Environmental Commitment

On one hand, not allowing personal cups, while on the other, encouraging everyone to use reusable cups—something feels inconsistent but hard to pinpoint. Although Starbucks states that these returned cups will be processed in collaboration with recycling company GO Box, with each returned cup undergoing cleaning and disinfection before being returned to stores for next use within 48 hours to reduce disposable cup waste.

I don't know about friends in other regions, but our friends from Guangdong province, who have the genetic trait of "rinsing all tableware with tea regardless of whether it's clean or not when dining out," probably feel some hesitation looking at these reusable cups.

Currently, all Starbucks stores in mainland China have fully adopted more environmentally friendly paper straws and specially developed sip-through cup lids designed to replace plastic straws. According to statistics, this reduces approximately 200 tons of plastic usage annually. Whether Starbucks, which has been committed to environmental causes, can achieve its 2025 goals remains to be verified by time.