3.29.2004 ET

(CSRwire) Washington, DC and Seattle, WA – Earth Day Network (EDN) and Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX) are teaming together for the third straight year to promote environmental awareness and encourage citizens to create positive change for the environment.

For the six weeks leading up to Earth Day, April 22, 2004, Starbucks will feature five different environmental messages on their coffee cup sleeves. The messages, developed by EDN and Starbucks, encourage customers to protect the environment by making energy-saving decisions on a daily basis. With more than 5,400 stores throughout the United States, Starbucks offers a broad reach for communicating environmental messages.

“Earth Day Network is proud to once again have Starbucks as a major partner in our campaign to reach out to a broad-based coalition of citizens,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network. “Thanks to their creativity and commitment, we are able to reach millions of people in this country and encourage them to get involved in the issues that impact the environment. Starbucks leadership and commitment to environmental activism is a model for all corporate citizens and consumers, and is an integral part of our success.”

Cup sleeve messaging includes the following five tips: (1) factor in fuel efficiency when shopping for a new car; (2) make your environmental voice heard by registering to vote; (3) measure your environmental footprint at earthday.org; (4) equip your home with Energy Star certified products; (5) use an energy efficient showerhead.

“As an environmental leader, Starbucks is proud to support Earth Day Network’s efforts to promote environmental stewardship,” said Ben Packard, director of Environmental Affairs for Starbucks. “Our goal is to minimize our environmental footprint on the planet and help to ensure a healthy environment for future generations.”

The cup sleeve messaging is a component of Starbucks ongoing support of Earth Day Network’s “Campaign for Communities”, which creates alliances between organizations representing people of color and low income communities. Starbucks is making a financial contribution of $25,000 to Earth Day Network in 2004 to help support the organization’s efforts to engage these communities in environmental education and ativism. This contribution marks the third consecutive year of Starbucks financial support of Earth Day Network.

Earth Day Network and Starbucks have also teamed up through the Starbucks Card Duetto™ Visa. As part of the Duetto™ Card philanthropy program, $5 will be donated to the Earth Day Network after each new cardmember makes their first purchase using the Visa Account of the Duetto™ Card from March 1, through May 31, 2004.

ABOUT EARTH DAY NETWORK
Earth Day Network was founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide. Our mission is to build broad-based citizen support for sound, workable and effective environmental and sustainable development policies for all. EDN is a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world. EDN's global network reaches over 12,000 organizations in 174 countries. As a result, Earth Day is the most celebrated non-secular holiday in the world with more than a half billion people participating every year.

ABOUT STARBUCKS COFFEE COMPANY
Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 7,500 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. The Company is committed to offering the highest quality coffee and the Starbucks Experience while conducting its business in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in which it does business.

Customers can download the Starbucks Corporate Social Responsibility Annual Report at www.starbucks.com/aboutus/csr.asp to learn more about Starbucks environmental initiatives.

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