Starbucks Joins With Conservation International to Help Customers Go Green

With a simple swipe, Starbucks customers can join Conservation International to help protect forests and the life that exists within them – as well as fight climate change. Starting March 9 and through December 31, 2010, every time a customer pays with their new Conservation International Starbucks Card at participating stores in the United States Starbucks will donate five cents to Conservation International to help protect forests.

Conservation International (CI) applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth’s richest regions of plant and animal diversity in the biodiversity hotspots, high-biodiversity wilderness areas and key marine ecosystems. The five cents donated by Starbucks with each purchase will provide contributions to support CI’s work to protect and restore forests, essential steps to addressing climate change. As a company that relies on coffee as an agricultural product, Starbucks knows firsthand the importance of protecting the environment. The company has worked with CI for more than 10 years to help support responsible coffee farming, protect biodiversity, and reduce coffee farming impacts on climate in an effort to sustain the supply of the world’s best coffee.

“The involvement of Starbucks and their customers provides a tremendous boost to global forest conservation and climate solutions,” said Justin Ward, Vice President of Business Practices at Conservation International. “We value our long-term relationship with Starbucks and we are pleased that support raised from the Preservation Card will benefit sustainable management of the world’s natural resources.”

The new CI Card, made with at least 80% post-industrial recycled materials, is a stored value card that can be given as a gift or loaded for personal use. Customers can also register their Card at www.starbucks.com/card to receive benefits through the My Starbucks Rewards program. Using the Card is an easy way to be green every day and encourage others to do the same.

“We have long shared our customers’ commitment to the environment,” said Ben Packard, vice president of Starbucks Global Responsibility. “Partnering with organizations like Conservation International allows Starbucks to give our customers an opportunity to make simple, sustainable decisions that collectively make a big difference.”

Through Starbucks Shared Planet commitment to doing business responsibly, Starbucks is working to achieve measurable goals in the areas of environmental stewardship, ethical sourcing (buying), and community involvement. Many of these goals address Starbucks global environmental footprint, guiding our work to reduce our impact by supporting conservation and continuing to seek innovative recycling and energy solutions.

Customers can pick up the new Conservation International Starbucks Card at participating Starbucks stores in the U.S. starting March 9, and go to www.starbucks.com/sharedplanet for details about Starbucks commitment to responsible business. Learn more about Conservation International’s efforts to save forests and find easy steps to live green at www.conservation.org.

=================================

You can help protect the environment by recycling your used printer cartridges & cell phones
If you already recycle empty cartridges and used cell phones, you’re among a growing number of people who understand the benefits to the environment. What you may not realize is that your inkjets, toners, and cell phones are worth more than you think. Why not recycle them at eCycleGroup.com?

Tags: conservation, environment, Food, Green News, Recycling