Global coffee retailer Starbucks has opened its first ‘Greener Stores’ in Asia Pacific, located in Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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The five ‘Greener Stores’ are part of Starbucks’ global expansion of its Greener Store framework, which will see 3,500 new or updated stores in 20 markets.
Each Greener Store has a unique combination of sustainable features, from energy and water efficient equipment and appliances, low-emitting paints and sealants, external initiatives, and more.
“The new Greener Stores in the Asia Pacific region are poised to set a new standard in sustainable retail which we hope will accelerate our movement towards Starbucks resource positive goals,” said Scott Keller, senior vice president for store development and design at Starbucks. “As one of our fastest growing regions, we want to ensure that we are driving growth with a sustainable future in mind for our communities and planet.”
In Singapore, the first Greener Store is located at Jurong Lake Gardens amid lush greenery, restored wetlands and habitats for biodiversity.
Thailand has certified three Greener Stores that feature precise energy monitoring capabilities, capturing energy use data in real-time to maintain efficiency and conserve energy.
Vietnam’s Greener Store is equipped with 100 percent LED lighting and sun shading features that reduce heat gain and energy consumption within the store. The store also has a long-term contract to buy Renewable Energy Certificates to offset the energy used in stores.
The open-source Greener Stores Framework was co-developed with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and is being utilised toward Starbucks’ goal of minimising its carbon, water, and waste footprints by 50 percent by 2030.
The framework includes a set of 25 performance-based standards across environmental impact areas including energy efficiency, water stewardship, and waste diversion, designed to accelerate the transformation of retail stores to more sustainable spaces.
Starbucks’ Greener Stores in the United States, where they first piloted, have delivered 30 percent water savings and 30 percent energy reduction, says Michael Kobori, Starbucks’ chief sustainability officer.
“We’re excited to continue expanding our Greener Store portfolio worldwide, a key step towards reaching our ambitious resource positive goals,” Kobori adds.
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In China and Japan, Starbucks plans to update its existing store portfolios by applying Greener Store standards. The aim for Starbucks China is to operate 2,500 Greener Stores in the market by 2025.
Up next are the first in-region Greener Stores in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).