Starbucks has unveiled a new lineup of cups, which the company says will reduce the number of plastic waste in landfills by 13.5 million pounds.
The new cups were announced ahead of Earth Day, and the company shared in a press release that the cups are made with up to 20% less plastic and will also require less water to make.
“They’re not only made with less plastic than previous cold cups, they are also projected to reduce emissions and conserve water in the production process,” the company said in its announcement, adding that they also “cost less to make.”
Starbucks also noted that these cups, which require 10% to 20% less plastic to make, depending on size, are its first single-use cups designed to be more sustainable.
The move comes as emissions from plastic production continue to draw criticism and as Starbucks works to meet its goal of slashing its water, waste, and carbon footprints in half within the next six years.
In an estimate, the company said the new cups will reduce the equivalent emissions of 5,200 cars and save 2,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water.
The cups also have the bonus of being more accessible to those who are visually impaired, as they have raised dots on them to help differentiate the sizes. The printed fill lines on the cups were also changed to black and white to allow for better contrast.
“We’re in the efficiency business,” Kristi H., a 26-year partner and store manager in Washington state, whose team tested the cup as it was being developed, shared in the announcement. “Anytime we can streamline or shave seconds off our operations, it frees us up to have more human connections with our customers and just have more fun at work.”