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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
2.08.2006 ET
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CSR News from:
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Starbucks Demonstrates Its Commitment to Social Responsibility Throughout Its Business in Fiscal 2005 Corporate Social Responsibility Annual Report
(CSRwire) SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2006--
Company Improves Environmental Impact of Its Paper Cups,
Exceeds Goals for Sustainable Coffee Purchases, and Increases Purchases
of
Renewable Energy
In its fifth Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Annual Report,
available today on the Company's website, Starbucks
Corporation(NASDAQ:SBUX) candidly reports on the progress made to operate
its business in a socially responsible way.
Announced at Starbucks Annual Meeting of Shareholders today, the report,
entitled "Beyond the Cup," continues to demonstrate the Company's
commitment to increased transparency, public disclosure and stakeholder
feedback. Throughout the report, Starbucks shows its iconic white cup as a
way to offer more candor and disclosure to its readers by using the cup as
a vehicle to address frequently asked questions from a variety of
stakeholders.
"We believe that being a good corporate citizen is key to our future
growth and success," stated Jim Donald, Starbucks chief executive officer.
"We are proud of the progress we are making and look forward to continuing
our efforts to encourage the sustainable production of high quality
coffee, reduce our environmental footprint and give back to the
communities we serve."
In addition to providing new information about corporate governance,
ethics and sustainable trade, the report highlights several of Starbucks
key CSR accomplishments during Fiscal 2005
including:
An Industry First: The Recycled Cup
Starbucks environmental leadership drove development of the first-ever
hot beverage cup to contain post-consumer fiber produced by a process that
has received a favorable safety review from the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). Designed in collaboration with Starbucks suppliers,
Solo Cup Company, MeadWestvaco and Mississippi River Corporation, the new
cups contain 10 percent post-consumer recycled paper and will begin
rolling out to Starbucks U.S. stores during the second quarter of Fiscal
2006.
Starbucks Pays Premium Prices and Grows Coffee And Farmer Equit(C.A.F.E.)
Purchases
Starbucks commitment to the sustainability of coffee farmers and their
communities underlies its pledge to pay premium prices for high quality
coffee. In Fiscal 2005, Starbucks paid an average price of $1.28 per pound
for all of its green (unroasted) coffee -- 23 percent higher than the
average commodity (New York "C") market price during this time frame.
The Company's coffee-buying strategies are intended to contribute to the
economic and social well-being of coffee farmers and communities, as well
as to the conservation of the environment. In support of these efforts,
Starbucks is pleased to report that in Fiscal 2005, it purchased 76.8
million pounds of coffee from approved C.A.F.E. Practices approved
suppliers in seven countries, exceeding its goal of 75 million pounds.
C.A.F.E. Practices was created by Starbucks in 2001, with input from
nongovernmental organizations, academics, governments and the coffee
industry to assure high-quality coffee is grown and processed with
environmental sensitivity and social equity throughout the coffee supply
chain.
Starbucks Becomes Largest Purchaser of Fair Trade Certified(TM) in
North America
In Fiscal 2005, Starbucks significantly increased its purchases of
Fair Trade Certified(TM) coffee. The Company purchased 11.5 million pounds
of Fair Trade Certified(TM) coffee, exceeding its goal of 10 million
pounds. This represents approximately 10 percent of global Fair Trade
Certified(TM) coffee imports. Twenty-one percent of the Fair Trade
Certified(TM) coffee imported into the U.S. in Fiscal 2005 was purchased
by Starbucks, making the Company the largest purchaser of Fair Trade
Certified(TM) coffee in North America.
Starbucks Significantly Increases Commitment to Purchase Renewable
Energy
Starbucks is mindful of the long-term implications of climate change on
the environment and its impact on coffee-growing communities. To offset
the Company's emissions that contribute to climate change, Starbucks has
committed to purchasing 150 million kWh of Green-e certified wind
renewable energy certificates (RECs) in Fiscal 2006, which is the
equivalent of 20 percent of the annual electricity consumed by
Company-operated retail stores in the United States and Canada. This has a
similar carbon reduction impact to removing 12,194 average passenger
vehicles from U.S. roadways for one year.
Additionally, this move represents a significant increase from Starbucks
original Fiscal 2005 commitment to purchase enough RECs to match five
percent of the energy needed to power its Company-operated stores in the
U.S. and Canada.
Commitment to transparency is an inherent part of Starbucks commitment to
CSR -- and the Starbucks CSR Annual Report is one of the Company's primary
vehicles for providing transparency. For the fourth year in a row,
Starbucks has taken the extra step of ensuring the credibility of the
report by having it independently verified by Moss Adams, LLP, a certified
public accountant, to provide assurance to stakeholders that the
information is accurate and consistent with the Company's values, policies
and practices.
Starbucks CSR Annual Report is available at www.starbucks.com/csrannualreport.
To request a printed copy, call 1-800-23-LATTE. Starbucks values ongoing
feedback from its stakeholders. Readers are encouraged to complete an
online survey at www.starbucks.com/csrsurvey.
About Starbucks Coffee Company
Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of
specialty coffee in the world, with more than 10,500 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.
Interviews available with:
-- Sandra Taylor, senior vice president, Corporate Social
Responsibility
-- Sue Mecklenburg, vice president, Business Practices
-- Ben Packard, director, Environmental Affairs
Please call Starbucks media contact, Heather Robertson at 206-318-7100
to schedule.
Meeting b-roll footage will be available for download at IA-6,
Transponder 21(C-Band) Downlink Frequency: 4120 Vertical Audio 6.2/6.8 on
Wednesday, February 8 from 10 a.m. (PT)/1 p.m. (ET) and 1 p.m.
(PT)/4 p.m. (ET).
Copyright Business Wire 2006
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