Plastic pollution

In 2019 Break Free From Plastic engaged 72,541 volunteers in 51 countries to conduct 484 brand audits. These volunteers collected 476,423 pieces of plastic waste, 43% of which was marked with a clear consumer brand. While not in the global top 10, this company ranked as North America's third worst plastic polluter.

Source: #breakfreefromplastic (2019)

Fined and blacklisted in Chile

Chile's Supreme Court has upheld a fine of US$50,000 on this company over its labour practices after unionised workers claimed the company threatened layoffs, benefit cuts and illegally replaced workers during a strike. Also, Chile's labour department blacklisted local units of Starbucks over their labour practices preventing them from bidding to supply local government offices for 2 years.

Source: Reuters (2012)

Underpaying workers in USA

A US Court of Appeals panel in Boston upheld a lower court ruling that this company owes Massachusetts baristas more than $14m for violating state laws preventing supervisors from sharing in tips pools. The lawyer representing the baristas who worked at Starbucks between 2005 and 2011, said that interest on the judgement raised the total claim closer to $18m.

Source: The Boston Globe (2012)

$3.75 product safety violation settlement

In June 2016 Teavana, owned by this company, agreed to pay a US$3.75 million civil penalty to settle allegations that it knowingly failed to report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as required by law, that its tea tumblers contained a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or that the tumblers created an unreasonable risk of serious injury.

Source: US CPSC (2016)

Excessive CEO pay

As You Sow's 2023 report, 'The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs', reveals the 100 most overpaid CEOs from USA's 500 largest public companies (as determined by the S&P 500 list). This company's CEO, Kevin Johnson came in at number 90 on the list, having been paid US$20,425,163 in 2022. According to the report, "Most CEOs have come to be grossly overpaid, and that overpayment is harmful to the companies, the shareholders, the customers, the other employees, the economy, and society as a whole."

Source: As You Sow (2023)

Fair Credit Reporting Act violations

In July 2020 this company agreed to settle this suit alleging that it systematically violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by failing to give job applicants timely notice that consumer credit reports might be used against them in the hiring process. The settlement involved payments ranging from a US$125 gift card to US$840 in cash plus the gift card for each class member. No estimate of the total cost to the company was cited in the court documents. Starbucks also paid US$20,000 to the class representatives and US$1,285,000 for the plaintiffs' legal fees. Starbucks has since made substantial changes to its background screening procedures.

Source: PRWeb (2020)

Climate action commitments

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; commit to 100% renewable power.

Source: We Mean Business (2021)

Good Egg Award 2009 (UK)

Compassion in World Farming is a UK-based organisation which works with the European food industry to encourage and reward commitment, transparency, performance and innovation in the field of animal welfare. This company won their Good Egg Award in 2009 in recognition for their decision to only use cage-free eggs in the food produce.

Source: Compassion in World Farming (2009)

Animal welfare pledge

In 2012 this company pledged to improve its animal welfare stardards, including pledges to phase out gestation crates for pigs and cages for chickens, eliminate the use of artificial growth hormones, and move away from inhumane chicken slaughter practices.

Source: Humane Society of the US (2014)

Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member

This company is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.

Source: SAI Platform (2023)

World Cocoa Foundation member

This company is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), an international membership organization representing more than 100 member companies across the cocoa value chain. WCF is committed to creating a sustainable cocoa economy through economic & social development and environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.

Source: World Cocoa Foundation (2024)

How2Recycle member

This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.

Source: How2Recycle (2023)

Ethical Tea Partnership member

The Ethical Tea Partnership was formed in 1997 when a number of major tea companies committed to working together to improve the social and environmental conditions in their supply chains.

Source: Ethical Tea Partnership (2024)

Ellen MacArthur Foundation partner

This company is a partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose stated mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works with business, government and academia to build a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2023)

Sustainability claims

This company has Leading in Sustainability claims on its website under the heading of Planet, providing stories and news of its activities.

Source: company website (2021)

CDP Forests score of C

In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests score of C.

Source: CDP (2023)

C grade in Plastic Promises Scorecard

As You Sow's 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard measures the corporate ambition and action of 225 large companies across six industries on six core pillars of plastic packaging pollution prevention: 1) Recyclability, 2) Reduction, 3) Recycled Content, 4) Recovery, 5) Reuse, and 6) Producer Responsibility. This company received a grade of C.

Source: As You Sow (2024)

OCA campaign victories

As a result of campaigning by the Organic Consumer Association, in 2007 Starbucks stopped using rBGH-laced milk in its products in USA. In 2009 Starbucks doubled its purchases of Fair Trade Certified coffee to 40 million pounds, making the company the largest purchaser of Fair Trade Certified coffee in the world.

Source: Organic Consumer Association (2009)

Modern Slavery statement

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.

Source: company website (2016)

CDP Water Security score of C

In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security score of C.

Source: CDP (2023)

Chicken welfare in USA

The Pecking Order reports by World Animal Protection assess the commitments and progress of global fast-food brands with regards to chicken welfare in their supply chains. Companies get points for what is in their policies, how quickly they plan to improve and how they are reporting on progress. In the USA edition of The Pecking Order 2021 this company was given the grade "Making Progress" (67%).

Source: World Animal Protection (2021)

OpenSecrets.org profile

OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.

Source: Open Secrets (2024)

59.3% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017

This company received a score of 59.3/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.

Source: Newsweek (2017)

41/100 S&P Global ESG Score

This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 41/100 in the Restaurants & Leisure Facilities category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 18 Nov 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.

Source: S&P Global (2022)

22.9% in Nature Benchmark

The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2023 and is ranked #189/816, with a total score of 22.9/100.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2023)