Recycled content, to go

Recycling Today, Jan, 2005

Starbucks has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Mississippi River Corp., a Starbucks supply chain member, approval to use recycled content in its paper hot beverage cups. Mississippi River Corp. says it is the first company to receive such approval.

Starbucks expects to convert its hot beverage cups to 10 percent recycled content following testing. By incorporating recycled content, Starbucks expects to decrease its dependence on tree fiber by more than 5 million pounds annually.

Jim Donald, Starbucks CEO designate, says the company hopes to convert to the recycled-content cups at its company-operated retail stores throughout the United States by the end of the calendar year.

"Being able to use post-consumer recycled content hot beverage cups is an important milestone for Starbucks in addressing the environmental impact associated with our paper-buying practices," Donald says. "We will continue to explore ways to include recycled content in all Starbucks-branded paper goods in our stores."

Starbucks collaborated for more than two years with its suppliers Solo Cup Co., MeadWestvaco and Mississippi River Corp. to obtain FDA approval.