Seattle - Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX) today formally announced that it has joined the United Nations Global Compact. The Global Compact is an international network of corporations, U.N. agencies, trade unions and non-governmental organizations that support a shared set of nine principles on the environment, labor, and human rights. With social responsibility at the core of Starbucks guiding principles, and a cornerstone of the Global Compact, Starbucks announcement today further renews the company's already strong commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen.

"Joining the Global Compact is a natural progression for Starbucks as our own guiding principles are already closely aligned with the Global Compact," said Orin Smith, president and ceo, Starbucks Coffee Company. "The Global Compact has made significant contributions to improving the environment and human rights around the world and Starbucks plans to take an active role in the organization by continuing to lead by example."

Sandra Taylor, Starbucks senior vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility, plans to participate in The Global Compact Leaders Summit that will be held today in New York. Chaired by Secretary General Kofi Annan, the Summit will assemble some of the world's most influential leaders from corporations, international labor and civil society, as well as select government officials, to take stock of the Global Compact and chart its future course.

Starbucks first action as a member of the Global Compact will be to create a call to action for the company's business partners. As part of this initiative, Starbucks will talk with its coffee suppliers about issues specific to their businesses and encourage them to align their business principles with those of the Global Compact.

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.

Starbucks Corporation

Starbucks Corporation

It's the way we do business Contributing positively to our communities and environment is so important to Starbucks that it's a guiding principle of our mission statement. We jointly fulfill this commitment with partners (employees), at all levels of the company, by getting involved together to help build stronger communities and conserve natural resources.

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