NRC honors Starbucks for recycling leadership.

UNITED STATES -- The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) plans to present its Eighth Annual "Recycling Works" Recognition Award to Starbucks during a gala celebration in Washington, D.C., in January. The "Recycling Works" Recognition Award is presented to organizations that represent leadership

"Starbucks has shown incredible perseverance and leadership in working with its suppliers, Solo Cup Company, Mead-Westvaco and Mississippi River Corporation, to develop a paper coffee cup that contains 10% post-consumer recycled paper--a first for this industry, said Kate Krebs, NRC executive director. Now that Starbucks has successfully navigated the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process, other companies can benefit from the same technology," Krebs added.

"We believe a healthy environment affects all people and that businesses are accountable to act responsibly," said Jim Donald, Starbucks president and c.e.o. "Environmental responsibility is core to Starbucks' roots and we are honored to receive this award as we continue to minimize our environmental footprint across every level of our supply chain operations, from coffee bean to coffee cup."

The result of more than eight years of research and testing, the introduction of Starbucks recycled content cup in early 2006 will mark a major milestone in the company's effort to address its environmental impact, lowering its dependence on tree fiber, which annually exceed more than five million pounds.

A major participant in the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Starbucks offers customers a 10 cent discount for using a re-usable commuter mug, generating a strong, loyal base of customers that practice waste prevention. In 2004, customers used commuter mugs 15.1 million times, avoiding 655,000-lbs. of paper waste.