Starbucks is still failing to publicly address key toxic indirect food additives that may be in food contact materials. With a grade of F, it was one of nine retailers out of 43 in our review to score zero points with no significant public-facing commitments to address the safety of indirect food additives that can be in food contact materials.
Despite substantial public attention to toxic indirect food additives, including PFAS, phthalates, and bisphenols, there is no indication that Starbucks is taking any action to address these challenges. While a recent report found that Starbucks appears to be using polyethylene food-handling gloves, a safer alternative to PVC gloves, the company has not confirmed this is a company-wide policy. While Starbucks has joined the NextGen Cup Challenge, partnering with Closed Loop Partners to design and commercialize a globally recyclable and compostable cup, there is no indication that this effort addresses chemical safety.
Opportunities for improvement: Starbucks can make progress by developing a public written safer chemicals policy covering toxic indirect food additives that may be in food contact materials, covering at least bisphenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates, setting quantifiable goals with clear timelines, and eliminating and safely replacing any toxic indirect food additives that may be in food contact materials. Starbucks should also become a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project.
Summary of Starbucks’ Grade

0 out of 17.5 points
Policy: Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

0 out of 5 points
Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

0 out of 12.5 points
Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

0 out of 13 points
Disclosure: Requires suppliers to report use of chemicals in products to retailer

0 out of 16 points
Action: Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern (CHCs) within the last three years

0 out of 13.5 points
Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes

0 out of 18 points
Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure
Starbucks does not appear to encourage or require suppliers to publicly disclose all indirect food additives in food contact materials and does not itself publicly disclose the identity of food contact materials that are free of CHCs that are indirect food additives going beyond regulatory compliance.

0 out of 7.5 points
Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint

0 out of 8.5 points
Third-party Standards: Promotes credible third party standards for safer products
Extra Credit:

0 out of 5 points
Joint Announcement: Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement

0 out of 15 points
Continuous Improvement: Shows continuous improvement by steadily expanding safer chemicals policy

0 out of 5 points
Safer Products: Program to promote safer products in stores and/or on website

0 out of 5 points
Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals

0 out of 5 points
Impact Investment: Investing financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives and/or green chemistry solutions