Starbucks announces plan to create 10,000 ‘greener’ stores by 2025

Starbucks on Wednesday announced plans to design, build and operate 10,000 eco-friendly stores by 2025 as part of its push to reduce its environmental impact.

The “Starbucks Greener Stores” initiative will require the company to audit its existing stores in the U.S. and Canada, making renovations and building new locations that comply with a set of “green” criteria.

{mosads}The framework for the program will be developed with sustainability experts from the World Wildlife Fund and other groups and will be audited and verified by SCS Global Services, a third-party organization that oversees the company’s Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices.

The guidelines will focus on efficient water and energy use, renewable energy, responsibly sourced materials, waste diversion and other efforts. The company plans to release the framework so that other companies can build off of the initiative.

Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Starbucks, said in a news release that building green stores is both “responsible” and “cost-effective.”

“Simply put, sustainable coffee, served sustainably is our aspiration,” Johnson said in a release.

The initiative is expected to save the company $50 million in utilities over the next decade, on top of the approximately $30 million in annual operating costs that it has saved from green practices.

Starbucks currently operates 1,500 stores globally that are LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council and has taken a number of other steps to reduce its carbon footprint.

Earlier this year, the coffee giant announced plans to eliminate plastic straws in all of its stores by 2020 and has pledged a $10 million effort to develop and introduce a “fully recyclable and compostable hot cup.”