Starbucks Installing New Faucets In Stores To Save Water Following Criticism

AP: NEW YORK - Starbucks Corp. is installing new water faucets in its U.S. stores that will allow the company to save about 150 gallons of water a day -- roughly two bathtubs' worth -- at each of its cafes after receiving criticism and as part of a green initiative.

The company said it will no longer run water continuously out of its taps to wash spoons and will instead install new faucets that meter out water. Baristas press the faucet once and high pressure water sprays out long enough to rinse a spoon. The faucets are now being installed in all U.S. stores -- a process that will be completed by September -- and will be delivered to select international stores in the fall. About 600 stores, mainly in California, now have the new faucets.

Stores that do not receive the new metered faucets will use a "single spoon, single pitcher" procedure, which involves using a spoon once and setting it aside to be cleaned and sanitized when dishes are washed.

"These standards balance Starbucks' need to reduce our environmental footprint and to meet the most stringent health safety standards for customer safety, with minimal cost and operational impact," the company said in documents obtained by the Associated Press, which outlined new procedures for using the faucets.

The company uses spoons to stir up its coffee concoctions and hold back foam when pouring steamed milk into its iconic cups. Starbucks mandates that the spoons be rinsed free of any residue between uses and sanitized every two hours.

The changover in faucets comes after the company was criticized by environomental groups for wasting water by keeping the tap turned on all day.

Angel Gardner, a barista in Minneapolis and a member of the Industrial Workers of the World union, characterized the change as "bow to public pressure."

Starbucks said it has been working since 2007 to find an alternative to the practice. Previously, the company had said it needed to keep the water running to prevent germs from breeding in the taps and pipes.

Starbucks said the change is part of the company's Shared Planet initiative, meant to encourage greener, more community-minded practices within the company, which was announced last year.

Comments

[sprtakis69]

03:35 AM on 06/06/2009

They also need to find a new way of training employees to make foam. When I went through training earlier this year I used several gallons of milk just to steam foam and throw it out and start anew. How wasteful is that? I couldn't believe it. I also made that recommendation when I was still working there because I couldn’t believe every Starbucks employee around the US, and probably the world, learns to make foam the same way by foaming and tossing out gallons of milk.

[Greenguy25]

11:43 AM on 06/05/2009

We applaud the efforts of Starbucks, even if its just another marketing ploy. Imagine if every food and beverage franchise retailer saved just one gallon of water per day. Starbucks alone would account for ten thousand gallons of water add in McDonalds/ Burger King/ Wendys/etc. and just like that, hundreds of thousands of gallons of water saved each and every day.

Just a thought.

http://www.mygreenscene.com

[Gasparilla]

09:28 AM on 06/05/2009

They offer a ten cent discount if you bring your own mug or reused cup. They need to stop giving two cups for a single serving of hot tea. As for the coffee, I thought the Pike Place was supposed to be a less strong version of the original. I can't taste any difference.

[davidwayneosedach]

09:18 PM on 06/04/2009

How the mighty is falling!

[flyguytom]

07:31 PM on 06/04/2009

Starbucks in Washington DC is singularly unresponsive to being repeated asked to offer recycling for plastic Ethos brand water bottles. The trash barrels outside the stores are filled with the offending bottles. The recycling containers that were provided in the stores were removed about six months ago. Phone calls to the home office are met with indifference. I was also present in a store on M street in Washington, when a thirsty, chocking, indigent person was refused a cup of tap water because they were not a paying customer. Shame!!!!

[jpperry]

07:25 PM on 06/04/2009

Starbucks should serve their coffee in mugs for patrons who will be sitting in the store. The cardboard and cups and plastic lids are so wasteful.

[MissElaineous]

08:08 PM on 06/04/2009

It takes more water to wash them, and also the mugs might get stolen. They will fill a cup you bring in. Customers should take matters into their own hands and bring their mugs with them. (I do.)

[hulagirrrl]

05:54 PM on 06/05/2009

If I go to a cafe i will not bring my own cup with me. That is typical American, what is wrong with them loading a dishwasher with cups, i do not think that it would be as bad as all of these cups and stuff...
Well, only in this country do you see people walking around with a paper cup to drink a cappuchino... I mean... one should sit down, hopefully in nice company or just to relax, drink up and then go about their business..... grrr

[LeftRight]

09:08 PM on 06/04/2009

They used to do that, and provided a discount for it....

[SouthernWisdom]

05:37 PM on 06/04/2009

Starbucks makes GREAT coffee. To all those who say it is bitter and burnt, get real, have you ever tasted it? or are you just repeating what you've heard others say? anyway, it's better for me that you stay away...the lines will be shorter and I'll get to enjoy my coffee faster!

[LeftRight]

09:08 PM on 06/04/2009

Have you ever tasted Seattle's Best Coffee?? It's FAR from the best, but it still leaves Starbucks in the dust!!

[SvrWx]

09:54 PM on 06/04/2009

Caribou is even better!! They have some great coffee!!

[hulagirrrl]

05:55 PM on 06/05/2009

Same company, what do you think they use??

[thundermummy]

09:40 PM on 06/04/2009

Try Metropolis or Intelligentsia from Chicago or Gimmee Coffee from Ithaca.

[Hemkit]

05:08 PM on 06/04/2009

Wow, they're supposed to rinse the spoon between drinks? Who knew? I've never seen it done.

[inthecolour]

02:39 PM on 06/04/2009

UM. This is disgusting. Runing water over used spoons = cleaning them?

I can has disposable, plastic spoonz plz?

Not a green option but at least we can reycle the plastic and we won't have to spread filth and disease w/ this awfully inadequate cleaning method.

[alphabet99]

03:45 PM on 06/04/2009

The spoons are only used during the making of drinks - not licked in anyway. They are sanitized every two hours. They are cleaner than plastic spoons that are handled by who knows how many people before they get to your mouth. They are cleaner than the spoons you use at home.

[leisuredress]

04:00 PM on 06/04/2009

Um, the spoons are used only for stirring drinks before giving them to customers. There's no way they'd be spreading filth and disease unless that's what their coffee is made of.....

[marlovian]

02:21 PM on 06/04/2009

Can't they just lick the spoons?
Wouldn't that be the ultimate green?

[AlexFTW]

02:36 PM on 06/04/2009

Well, there have been a few baristas....they can lick my spoon anytime.

[SvrWx]

09:56 PM on 06/04/2009

But then there are a few Baristas that make me wonder if they've had a Hepatitis shot or if they were stoned or high from the heroin the night before.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

02:44 PM on 06/04/2009

Find some doggies to lick the spoons. They are very thorough.

[KarateKid]

03:57 PM on 06/04/2009

LOL. That's for sure.

[quiviran]

06:16 PM on 06/04/2009

It's what they lick between spoons that would be the issue.

[Defunct]

02:04 PM on 06/04/2009

When will they start targeting hotels in Palm Springs with luscious grounds being watered daily at 12pm.
Most of the water I see goes to the pavement.

[tre]

01:59 PM on 06/04/2009

Everyone knows that, once that water goes down the drain, it's gone forever, and can never be recovered.
Has anyone ever figured out where it goes? Maybe to the same place that one sock from every washer load goes.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

02:45 PM on 06/04/2009

The water comes out on the other side of the earth, in China.

[KarateKid]

03:58 PM on 06/04/2009

LOL. You're on a roll.

[trimom]

03:41 PM on 06/04/2009

Did you miss your elementary school trip to the local water treatment center? This is an unnecessary waste of resources.

I do hope that you are just kidding.

[Perry Clease]

05:25 PM on 06/04/2009

I am sure that tre is kidding. However, here in San Diego there is talk again of "toilet to tap" and processing that drained water so that it is potable. Already we are using partially treated water for landscaping and industrial uses. Water restrictions began here on June 1st.

As to those criticizing Starbucks coffee I wish I could have found one last week. I was in the boonies of the Eastern Sierra of California and Nevada, the only brewed coffee I could buy was made from water apparently dipped out of a saline lake. On the plus side the road trip was magnificent and bad coffee aside I very much enjoyed myself. I topped it off with a visit to Yosemite.

[cruzy]

01:30 PM on 06/04/2009

This is a strange story. It doesn't make any sense why Starbucks would have had a system where the water was running constantly. I have worked in high-volume restaurants in the past and I've never encountered such a system. Aside from any environmental concerns, it simply seems to be a poor business practice to have the water running constantly--their water bills must be astronomical. I would think Starbucks would have moved to the new metered system solely for the reason that it would cut costs.

[ini]

02:38 PM on 06/04/2009

You know this story is probably a cover over the fact the water bill alone was sky high that Starbucks could no longer afford to pay it hence the recession.

[trimom]

03:42 PM on 06/04/2009

Probably thought that the additional spoon expense would be too high.

[therblig]

01:16 PM on 06/04/2009

"Angel Gardner, a barista in Minneapolis and a member of the Industrial Workers of the World union, characterized the change as "bow to public pressure".

what's wrong with doing the right thing? no, it's "bowing to public pressure". i wish they would bow to public pressure and make decent coffee,

[LOCUTUS13]

01:23 PM on 06/04/2009

It's all in the marketing.

[jacobomorales]

01:06 PM on 06/04/2009

And who drinks that sht$y coffee anyway?

[LOCUTUS13]

01:21 PM on 06/04/2009

Not me, I tried their overpriced, bitter (more like burnt) coffee once and will never again.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

02:46 PM on 06/04/2009

I prefer pickle juice.