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

[TXfemmom]

A simple thing, multiplied times millions helps.

[peacethinker]

It's a good simple thing, conserving resources when and where you can, even if it's only a small amount

[Arizonabill]

Actually, the lack of clean water in the world is the number one killer of children worldwide. There are indeed water shortages in California, Nevada, and other parts of the U.S.

[Tom95134]

"meter out water", and what if the spoon isn't clean? And where do they put the spoon while they are making the next drink, on the counter? This is crazy. This type of overflow water wells were designed to insure that spoons were rinsed and were not left laying on the counter when not in use (usually to meet health department requirements).

I wonder what local health departments will have to say about this?

[claylandg]

Totally agree with you i have worked i many restaurants this is a health department violation.
Even in Ice cream places they have to have a stream of water flowing for the dippers on every ice cream machine.

[cruzy]

It's called a faucet. The employee uses the spoon, then immediately rinses it with cold water from a high pressure faucet which operates as long as the employee presses the pedal (i.e. "the meter"). Please tell me how this is any different than holding a spoon under a constant flow of water--it's not.

And, it is most certainly NOT a health code violation. Health codes merely require that spoons be thoroughly rinsed after each use (and sanitized every couple of hours in a dishwasher)--they do not require the water to be constantly running when no spoons are being rinsed.

[RegalPlatypus]

I've been a Starbucks employee for two and a half years and while it's ultimately a good thing that Starbucks is changing its faucets, Starbucks received unfair criticism for it in the first place. I'd be surprised if the majority of chain restaurants don't have one or more continually running water wells in the kitchen somewhere. When I worked at Outback Steakhouse, they had two. Additionally, I doubt the old faucets will be recycled and the environmental impact of replacing them isn't too pretty.

"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."

Right. Hope you don't mind waiting another minute per latte.

[pauldununfola]

I worked at Peet's Coffee for about 6 months and we never wasted water in any way like what was described in the article. Maybe the difference is that we were a younger- sort of hip crew of students, but besides that our boss was about keeping costs low.

Or maybe the difference is that we call small and large cups of coffee, "small" and "large" and not "vente" and "tall" .......................................................................

[leisuredress]

yeah, the running water wells are standard fare for restaurants. the difference is that they are normally in kitchens, where bitchy customers with too much time on their hands aren't allowed.

[SwingingFromCenter]

Kowtowing to the extreme. Not like there's a water shortage in the world.

[karl hungus]

Yet. With the current population growth it's inevitable.

[truenortherner]

What fantasyland do you live in? There are potable water shortages all over the world. And we are heading closer to water infrastructure breakdowns in our major cities.

[SwingingFromCenter]

That's because the rest of the world doesn't have purifying facilities, not because there's a shortage. Companies like Starbucks not leaving their faucets on aren't going to magically give clean drinking water to kids in Sudan.