Starbucks’ is encouraging students to fork over an additional 99 cents for reusable cups, lid included, to participate in their nationwide effort to go green.
The chain of coffee shops recently started to sell plastic reusable cups as an alternative to paper cups. Starbucks coffee shops in the University Library and the University Dining Plaza now offer a 10-cent discount on refills when customers bring in the reusable plastic cups, according to Erica Miller, manager of the University Library Starbucks.
“Starbucks is committed to decreasing waste, and now you can play a part,” Miller said via email.
Miller said that both Starbucks locations on campus began selling the cups during the first week of January and that the cups have been very popular among students, staff and faculty.
Freshman music major David Morales said he sees the discount as an incentive to purchase beverages at Starbucks more often.
“During my first few days attending [CSULB], I went to Starbucks for breakfast, and they were a bit pricy, but now that they have this cup that comes with a discount I might consider buying,” he said.
Sophomore pre-nursing major Jin-Sil Kim said that the cup is a sensible eco-friendly idea, but she does not think the discount will motivate more people to purchase it.
“The discount doesn’t seem enough to drag in people, but those who care for the environment would appreciate it,” Kim said.
According to the Starbucks’ website, almost 2 percent of all beverages sold at Starbucks in 2011 were served in reusable tumblers brought in by customers. Starbucks’ goal is to serve at least 5 percent of the beverages in reusable cups, and make 100 percent of cups either reusable or recyclable by 2015, according to the website.
Among the other environmental goals that Starbucks has detailed on its website, the chain listed an effort to provide front-of-store recycling centers at each Starbucks location, as well as adopt more efficient energy and water conservation strategies.
Sophomore health administration major Jacqueline Tran said that the new cups would help reduce waste, but she is still not sure if she will purchase the cup.
“I guess it depends on the quality of the cup and how it’s designed to look like,” she said.
For other students, however, the environmental benefits of the new reusable cups are enough to convince them to purchase it.
“It is smart and very eco-friendly,” sophomore civil engineering major Alejandro Espinoza said. “I will probably buy the cup to help go green.”