We are almost nearing the end of any special lockdown closures due to covid. One particular shutdown was very disheartening to me, but of course VERY necessary. Starbucks had suspended their BYOC (bring your own cup) option. This especially was hard to digest as single-use Starbucks cups contribute to a very high percentage of global waste. The incentive for BYOC was you would receive a .10 cent discount whenever you brought in your own cup.
Now due to covid there is quite a bit of danger in spreading of germs and viruses through the handling of these cups. They would come from a specific person touching it, further, the barista would have to touch, further, another barista would handle the cup to hand over the drink. So I pondered how would Starbucks implement a strategy to remain contactless but still able to handle someone’s personal cup.
Well, they have come up with a genius idea, to me anyway! As I giggle to myself well it’s so simple and straightforward, nawww it’s a genius idea, I absolutely love it.
Let’t take a look here the steps they have taken to ensure the safety throughout the whole drink making process so rest assured you are protected.
RULE 1: All baristas continue to wear masks, and starbucks does still require customers to wear masks as they enter and practice social distancing. Hopefully everyone is doing their due-diligence to disinfect their hands prior to coming in.
STEP 1: BYOC (Bring your own cup) summer cups are here!
There are still limitations for waste processing, but reduction can be realized if the effort is put in. Starbucks has aimed to reduce its waste contribution by 50% by 2030. Now they are an on-the-go concept so the use of reusable cups is a bit of an inconvenience, as you do have to pack some extra items, adding into an extra duty of washing your cup right away so the leftover drips of milk don’t go rancid. But honestly, if you choose you really can implement the LOVE YOURSELF LOVE THE EARTH mantra. Now the taste change of the coffee I personally experience, is another story but I’m currently trying different options to tackle this one.
STEP 2: Remove your lid, place your to-go cup in ceramic mug provided by Barista
STEP 3: Contactless coffee making before your eyes
Each Barista maintains their skill level and pay extra attention to the new way of making customer hot and cold beverages, maintaining all reuse coffee mugs are not touched and remain in the ceramic mug.
STEP 3: Pick up beverage from the ceramic mug
I am curious to see how the Baristas will be dealing with the traffic of drinks being made quickly, and customers not picking them up, right at that moment, perhaps they are just a little tied up and leave the drink at the counter for an extra minute. Perhaps they will have a few ceramic mugs in rotation, as they do have to be sanitized often throughout the day. Awesome though, there still has not been any contact with the drink cup.
Overall I’m glad this service is back, right now as of June 20, 2021 it is open in the USA. Still waiting on the announcement for Canada.
Have a read of a new 2-month trial for Starbucks reuse-cup rental option, called BORROW A CUP.
You pretty much purchase a drink, add $1 deposit for re-use cup, sip, then return by scanning and dropping it in a kiosk bin, or a company called Ridwell offers customers an at-home pickup option to return their borrowed cup.
You will then be credited $1, and 10 bonus stars when it is scanned. They sure are aiming to eventually eliminate single-use cups for good! I like the idea especially the bonus stars, because they do add up, who doesn’t love free drinks! Oh, by the way, Starbucks has new Summer cups in, check mine out.
Wait!! How does Starbucks clean & Sanitize?
According to the Starbucks website ” For the Borrow a Cup program, Starbucks has partnered with GO Box, a reuse system operator and service provider, to collect borrowed cups from stores daily, professionally clean and sanitize them using commercial dishwashing equipment, and put them back into circulation within 48 hours “.
Well, I like this idea. Who would have thought we would have so many services available to aid in the vision of reducing waste and keeping people safe from spreading germs during this time of post-covid.
My thoughts: LOVE LOVE LOVE give it a try!
What do you guys think about the Borrow a cup program? Would you try it out?
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