10.13.2005 ET

(CSRwire) Washington, D.C. (October 13, 2005) - The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) will present its Eighth Annual "Recycling Works" Recognition Award to Starbucks Coffee Company during a gala celebration in Washington, D.C., on January 24, 2006. The "Recycling Works" Recognition Award is bestowed upon organizations that represent leadership in recycling, conservation of the environment, and the fulfillment of the National Recycling Coalition's mission.

"Starbucks has worked with its suppliers and customers since the company's founding to implement a sustainability program that runs the gamut from waste prevention, recycling, and composting, to socially responsible buying guidelines for coffee and the implementation of measures aimed at reducing the company's impact on global climate change," says Kate Krebs, NRC executive director. "Most recently, Starbucks has shown incredible perseverance and leadership in working with its suppliers, Solo Cup Company, Mead-Westvaco and Mississippi River Corporation, to develop a paper coffee cup that contains 10 percent post-consumer recycled paper - a first for this industry. Now that Starbucks has successfully navigated the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process, other companies can benefit from the same technology," says Krebs.

"We believe a healthy environment affects all people and that businesses are accountable to act responsibly," said Jim Donald, Starbucks president and CEO. "Environmental responsibility is core to Starbucks roots and we are honored to receive this award from the National Recycling Coalition as we continue to minimize our environmental footprint across every level of our supply chain operations, from coffee bean to coffee cup."

The result of more than eight years of innovative research and testing, the introduction of Starbucks recycled content cup in early 2006 will mark a major milestone in the company's effort to address its environmental impact, lowering its dependence on tree fiber annually by more than five million pounds.

While the recycled content cup is one of the company's latest innovations, Starbucks has maintained a long-term commitment to environmental sustainability. A major participant in the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Starbucks offers customers a 10-cent discount for using a re-usable commuter mug, generating a strong, loyal base of customers who practice waste prevention. In 2004, customers used commuter mugs 15.1 million times, avoiding 655,000 pounds of paper waste.

Starbucks also encourages customers to use coffee grounds, which make up 37 percent of the waste stream created by its stores, as a soil amendment by offering complementary five-pound bags of used coffee grounds through its Grounds for Your Garden program.

These programs, as well as the company's efforts to address climate change, transportation impacts, and environmentally-friendly store design, have earned Starbucks several recognitions, including the World Environment Center's Gold Medal Award for Sustainable Development.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the gala, beginning at $12,500 for Premier recognition. Premier sponsors receive priority seating and tickets to a private reception with the CEO of Starbucks. Individual tickets are also available for $400. For sponsorship or ticket information, contact Janet Kincaid, NRC's director of fund development, at (202) 347-0450, ext. 29 or janetk@nrc-recycle.org.


About the National Recycling Coalition

Founded in 1978, the National Recycling Coalition, Inc. (NRC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization representing all the diverse interests committed to the common goal of maximizing recycling to achieve the benefits of resource conservation, solid waste reduction, environmental protection, energy conservation and social and economic development. Its 4,000 members include recycling and environmental organizations; large and small businesses; federal, state and local governments; and individuals. The Coalition, based in Washington, D.C., provides technical education, disseminates public information on selected recycling issues, shapes public and private policy on recycling and operates programs that encourage recycling markets and economic development. For more information, please visit www.nrc-recycle.org.

About Starbucks Coffee Company

Starbucks Corporation is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 10,000 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. In addition to its retail operations, the Company produces and sells bottled Frappuccino® coffee drinks, Starbucks DoubleShot® espresso drink, and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships. The Company's brand portfolio provides a wide variety of consumer products--innovative superpremium Tazo® teas and exceptional compact discs from Starbucks Hear Music™ enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-class products. The Seattle's Best Coffee® and Torrefazione Italia® coffee brands enable Starbucks to appeal to a broader consumer base by offering an alternative variety of coffee flavor profiles.