“We believe our purpose extends far beyond the pursuit of profit, with an aspiration to positively impact the planet we all share and the people who connect with Starbucks.”

This week, Starbucks announced that it will serve vegan oat milk at all stores across the US by next Spring.

The nationwide oat milk roll-out comes after the popular coffee chain tested the milk at approximately 1,300 locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Starbucks also introduced oatmilk in all stores across Canada this fall. 

The move is part of the international coffee chain’s efforts to achieve its sustainability goals after a 2020 audit found that dairy caused the largest portion of the chain’s carbon footprint in 2018.

According to the report conducted by sustainability consultant Quantis and the World Wildlife Fund, 21% of the 15.6 million metric tons of greenhouse gases emitted by more than 31,000 Starbucks outlets worldwide originated from dairy.

‘Planet Positive Future’

In its biennial Investor Day meet hosted on 9^th December, chief executive officer Kevin Johnson and other Starbucks leaders outlined a vision for ‘Planet Positive Future’ by announcing deeper investments in eco-friendly operations, regenerative agricultural practices, and environmentally friendly menus.

Starbucks also pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and waste production by 50 percent by 2030.

To achieve the target, the coffee chain will introduce more plant-based options, extend its use of renewable energy such as solar and wind, and invest $50 million in The Global Farmer Fund, so that coffee growers can use these funds to strengthen their farms and farming practices and become even more productive and sustainable.

‘Positively impact the planet’

“As we approach the 50th Anniversary of Starbucks in 2021, we honor our past while looking to the future with a long runway of healthy growth ahead,” Johnson said.

“We are well positioned to invest in the right areas to strengthen our competitive advantage and drive consistent, sustainable growth for decades to come.

“We believe our purpose extends far beyond the pursuit of profit, with an aspiration to positively impact the planet we all share and the people who connect with Starbucks.”

• Read: Impossible Foods is creating dairy-identical milk from plants

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Mohsina Dodhiya

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