• 4 min read
• April 17, 2023

Updated April 21, 2025

A Starbucks store is verified as a “Greener Store” when it successfully meets robust standards, as verified by an outside third-party auditor, across eight environmental impact areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion. The standards were developed in partnership with Starbucks and leading experts included the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and SCS Global Services.   

As of 2024, Starbucks has verified 9,396 stores for their sustainable design, build and operations, a 50% increase since the prior year.  

Additionally, Starbucks is recognizing five of its Greener Stores, which were selected across regions to celebrate stores that exceed in innovation, environmental impact, community connection, inspiration and customer & partner experience in their region. 

What makes a Greener Store?  

Starbucks Greener Stores are helping drive 30% water savings through a wide range of initiatives. For example, a verified store in Virginia incorporates native planting to save water and maintenance costs.

At a store in Los Angeles, the company is continuing to pilot a water-reclamation project. This project takes the residual moisture from the store’s ice machine and water-filtration system – that would normally flow into the sewer – and diverts it instead into four 55-gallon storage tanks. Every time the store’s toilet flushes, it uses water from those tanks.   

“I think [Greener Stores] are a really great representation of how much we really care about the planet we live on, and we can lead a change for other companies.” – Ayako, store manager in California  

Through Starbucks Greener Stores Program, Starbucks is saving $60 million in annual operating costs in the U.S., including 30 percent water savings and 30 percent energy reduction when compared to historic store practices.

These include efforts such as retrofitting store lighting to LEDs; installing more energy-efficient appliances like Advansys dishwashers and ENERGY STAR certified batch-type ice makers; and standardizing energy-use schedules and heating/cooling temperatures.   

Starbucks recycles in more than 8,000 company-operated stores across the U.S. More than 4,000 have both recycling and compost services. Through our Greener Stores program, we strive to add waste services to support the most diversion possible in our stores. That means tailored signage around what items go in what bin for customers and partners and an internal Recycling App which gives store-specific details on handling waste. 

Several stores now feature a number of clean technology projects such as EV charging and onsite solar that help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and improve local air quality.   

Starbucks has a long history of clean technology projects. Since 2015, Starbucks has powered 100 percent of its North American company-operated stores with renewable electricity and directly invested over $225MM in solar and battery storage projects across the U.S. 

Starbucks Greener Stores standards limit the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in products such as, paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants that can be harmful for the environment and degrade air quality. Other requirements mean mercury-free lighting installed in stores, which increases light quality and also helps eliminate harmful materials that could end up in landfills.   

Starbucks is continuing work on an Embodied Carbon Initiative, which will evaluate material purchase data to measure, track and assess the carbon emissions that occur during the sourcing, manufacturing, and transportation of equipment and building materials in our cafes. The goal, says Jodie Clarke, senior project manager in Global Store Development, is to establish procurement guidelines to obtain more granular product data engage with suppliers in order to influence more earth friendly practices throughout the supply chain and educate partners and suppliers through a Starbucks Global Academy sustainability course. 

One of our stores  in Antigua, Guatemala  is located inside a preserved and restored UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic, courtyard-style building uses local art, local furniture and local materials.   

“We refurbished what was already there. We didn’t pour new concrete. We didn’t buy new steel,” says Erica Saraff, senior project manager, Global Store Development-Sustainability. “It’s open-air, so no HVAC system, which is a huge source of electricity use. Using local supplies also means savings on transportation costs.”  

Conclusion

“Everything that we’ve built into our more sustainable stores is a little step,” Saraff says. “When you’re talking about one dishwasher, or one recycling bin, or one light fixture, that’s small. But we have thousands of stores, and all those small things that you do – as a partner, as a customer – make an impact because of our scale.   

“If we’re all doing something better, it becomes a much bigger better.”