 Oct. 7, 2008 - Starbucks wastes enough water to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool every 83 minutes, according to an investigative report by The Sun. (via BusinessGreen)
The newspaper reveals that staff at every Starbucks location are instructed to leave water taps on throughout the day to wash spoons and utensils.
Starbucks originally justified its policy by saying that leaving the faucet running is more environmentally sound than turning it on and off. However, the company has since changed its position, stating that the practice, which they claim is widely accepted in the industry, is more for hygienic purposes.
"Dipper wells use a stream of continuous cold fresh-running water to rinse away food residue, help keep utensils clean and prevent bacterial growth,” according to one Starbucks rep.
Though the taps-on policy is considered standard practice in the U.S. and European Union, Starbucks does concede that, "the opportunity exists to reduce our total water usage."
"The claim that you need to keep taps running non-stop for health and safety reasons is bonkers," says Peter Robinson, director of environmental charity Waste Watch. "Big companies like Starbucks should be setting an example about not wasting natural resources. If they are serious about going green, they should ditch this shameful practice immediately." |
