Starbucks’ sustainable store concept, Greener Store, has now been introduced in Japan as part of the coffee company’s global expansion of its open-source Greener Store Framework.
Located in the grounds of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, the store aims to reduce in-store waste by 40 per cent, cut carbon emissions by 30 per cent and water consumption by 20 per cent – all compared to other Starbucks stores in Japan. The new cafe will serve as a sustainability hub where Starbucks can test and scale solutions to help shape its Greener Stores expansion across the nation.
“Our Greener Stores allow us to test and learn how we can build and operate even more sustainable stores and inspire our partners and customers to adopt more eco-conscious behaviours,” said Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks.
“Our first Greener Store in Japan expands on recent innovations in the market, and is a testament to the passion and energy of our partners in creating solutions to reduce our environmental impact.”
Greener Store Framework is part of Starbucks’ global goal to reduce carbon emissions, water usage, and waste sent to landfills by 50 per cent by 2030.
The store uses materials repurposed to create an environment that celebrates circularity, including artwork created from recycled canvas and fishing nets, and floor tiling made from coffee grounds. In addition, 85 per cent of construction materials used to build the store are recycled.
The store will reduce carbon emissions and water consumption by introducing renewable energy-powered cleaning stations and innovative water circulation systems that recycle more than 98 per cent of the water used for washing hands.
“Through this new store experience, we hope to inspire our customers to join us in reducing waste, leading to planet-positive business operations, and making steady progress together towards the realisation of a sustainable society,” said Takafumi Minaguchi, CEO at Starbucks Japan.
Customers are invited to join Starbucks on its resource-positive journey through its reusable to-go cup program, which provides a stainless-steel tumbler for to-go orders that can be collected at the stores, sanitised, and reused. By providing customers with a range of options suited to their preferences, Starbucks aims to reduce single-use cup usage at the store by 75 per cent.
Starbucks operates more than 2300 Greener Stores across the US and Canada. The Wadakura Fountain Park Store marks the brand’s second store in Asia after China. Starbucks will open two new Greener Stores in the UK and Chile next year, aiming to reach 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025.
Starbucks expanded its Greener Store initiative into China earlier this year.
