Coffee for your plants? In an effort to reduce waste, Starbucks offers free coffee grounds for gardeners with local program.

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Dubbed as the&nbsp;unofficial start of summer, the&nbsp;May long weekend is around the corner, and Canadians are dusting off their gardening tools to start planting outdoors.&nbsp;Starbucks is here to help gardeners show some extra love to their plants and flowers this season, while also helping the environment

Starbucks serves&nbsp;freshly brewed&nbsp;coffee to millions of customers each day, but many may not know they can also pick up a free bag of used coffee grounds to enrich their gardens and compost with its in-store program, Grounds For Your Garden.&nbsp;Starbucks started its Grounds For Your Garden&nbsp;program in 1995, which is offered on a first-come, first-served basis in participating stores for free to customers. Even the packaging has been reused – baristas scoop spent coffee grounds into the empty bags originally used to ship espresso beans to stores.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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For over 25 years, customers have taken advantage of Grounds For Your Garden at their local Starbucks. Deepak has been picking up bags of coffee grounds from his local store in Ontario, for his community garden to nourish and prepare his soil for growing fresh produce. His garden, filled with vegetable seeds and fresh greens, was first created to share homegrown food with a few neighbours. Now, he makes his harvest available to help others in the community who face challenges accessing fresh food due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions.

“After volunteering with similar community programs, we were inspired to grow our own garden to help those nearby in need,” said Deepak. “Especially in times like we are in now, it’s important for us to share the resources we have available. Thanks to the program at our local Starbucks, we can help provide access to fresh food in our community, while also re-using coffee grounds for a better purpose.”

On top of keeping pests&nbsp;away, Deepak shared that the coffee grounds, in combination with his kitchen composter,&nbsp;have helped nourish the soil to produce better greens, including Spinach and Kale, that were most recently harvested for his community members.&nbsp;

Ashley Bonar is the store manager at the Starbucks Deepak regularly visits. Ashley looks forwards to seeing customers take advantage of her location’s Grounds For Your Garden program.

“This is a win-win program for both our partners, customers and the planet. We love seeing the beautiful gardens Deepak and all our customers in the community who use this program grow. Plus, our partners feel so much pride and joy packing the bags of coffee grounds to be used in the community, while also reducing our waste,” said Ashley Bonar, Starbucks Store Manager and Co-Chair of Starbucks Canada Partners for Sustainability.

Grounds For Your Garden has evolved to become an important part of Starbucks effort to reduce the environmental impact of its stores. Although composting may not be commercially available in all municipalities, the program serves as another way to reuse coffee&nbsp;grounds to&nbsp;prevent one of the company’s largest waste contributor (by volume and weight) going to landfills. This is just one of the programs that supports the company’s&nbsp;bold, multi-decade aspiration to cut carbon, water and waste each by 50 percent by 2030 and give back to the planet by <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-sustainability-commitment-infographic/">becoming resource positive</a> in the future.

Treat your garden and check with your&nbsp;Barista&nbsp;to see if used coffee grounds are available at your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.starbucks.ca/store-locator?map=57.751076,-101.645508,4z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">local Starbucks</a>.&nbsp;

Starbucks started its Grounds For Your Garden program in 1995, which is offered on a first-come, first-served basis in participating stores for free to customers.

Starbucks Grounds For Your Garden: Rooted in a Mission to Help Local Communities Grow - Starbucks Canada

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Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Grounds For Your Garden: Rooted in a Mission to Help Local Communities Grow

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Sustainability has been at our core since the beginning, back when Starbucks began in 1971.&nbsp; Over the years, with the help of our partners, customers, industry experts and advocates, we’ve looked for ways to help protect our planet, including introducing a cup sleeve made from recycled content, ethically sourcing 99 percent of our coffee, co-developing the LEED for Retail program, investments in renewable energy, championing the creation of a recyclable and compostable paper to-go cup and more. We recently announced a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/kevin-johnson-letter-sustainability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="new sustainability commitment (opens in a new tab)">new sustainability commitment</a> to be resource positive, including preliminary goals of reducing carbon, water and waste 50 percent by 2030.

To learn more, read on for an at-a-glance look at Starbucks sustainability milestones: 

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Opens its first store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, selling whole bean coffee, tea and spices.

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Begins its first test of a coffeehouse concept, serving to-go beverages in paper cups.

Unveils Starbucks Mission Statement: “To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow.”

Establishes environmental mission statement, committing to “a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business.”

Rolls out <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-coffee-grounds-for-the-garden/" target="_blank">Grounds for Your Garden</a> program in U.S. and Canada.

Establishes a relationship with the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund to explore ways to reduce the environmental impact of its cups.

Introduced soymilk, Starbucks first non-dairy milk alternative.

Develops a cup sleeve made from recycled content to help eliminate the practice of double-cupping.

Establishes The Starbucks Foundation, whose mission is to strengthen communities around the world by creating opportunities for populations that face barriers, advancing sustainability initiatives, and promoting civic engagement.

Forms partnership with Conservation International to create Starbucks first ethical sourcing program. 

Issues its first <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/global-report" target="_blank">Corporate Social Responsibility Report</a>.

Introduces ethical coffee-sourcing guidelines developed in partnership with Conservation International.

Partners with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to develop the LEED for Retail program.

Launches C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) Practices with Conservation International, with SCS Global Services overseeing the verification system of suppliers. 

Opens first Farmer Support Center opened in Costa Rica. Since then, eight other centers have opened around the world to support coffee farmers with climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Publicly reports its first inventory of greenhouse gas emissions.

Makes its first renewable energy purchase, equivalent to 5 percent of U.S. stores electricity consumption. 

Designs and builds its first LEED certified store in Hillsboro, Ore.

Quadruples renewable energy purchases to equal 20 percent and begins buying renewable energy certificates (RECs) in partnership with World Resources Institute’s Green Power Market Development Group. Designated as one of the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/documents/2006awards.pdf" target="_blank">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partner of the Year</a>.

Launches the retail industry’s first hot beverage paper cup with 10 percent post-consumer recycled fiber (PCF).

Announces 2015 “Shared Planet” commitments, including: ethically source 100 percent of its coffee; develop a recyclable cup and increase cup reusability; implement front-of-house recycling and reduce energy consumption in stores; build LEED certified company-operated stores and cover 100 percent of U.S. store operations with renewable energy. Implements global LED lighting conversion program. 

Commits $20 million to a variety of farmer loan funds, providing coffee farmers access to capital to cover expenses during the growing and harvesting cycles and make strategic investments in their farms. 

Partners with Conservation International to launch climate change campaign and five-year global commitment to support farming communities and encourage the protection of their land, water and forests.

Introduces a new polypropylene plastic cup that uses 15 percent less plastic than previous cups and emits 45 percent less greenhouse gas during production.

Hosts first Cup Summit in Seattle, inviting local governments, cup manufacturers, recyclers and stakeholders to find a comprehensive recyclable cup solution.

Opens Farmer Support Center in Kigali, Rwanda.

Unveils new, locally relevant design strategy to reduce environmental impact and incorporate reused and recycled elements. Starbucks becomes one of the first retailers to join USGBC’s LEED Volume Certification pilot program.

<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2009/starbucks-opens-leed-certified-coffee-roasting-plant/" target="_blank">Opens LEED-certified roasting plant</a> in Sandy Run, S.C.

Hosts second Cup Summit in Boston and announces Paper Recovery Alliance with the Foodservice Packaging Institute.

Opens Farmer Support Center in Mbeya, Tanzania.

Rolls out <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/earthsleeve-global-rollout/" target="_blank">cup sleeves</a> made from less paper and more post-consumer content, saving nearly 100,000 trees each year.

Starbucks Mexico opened its <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/store-design/chalpultepec-reforma" target="_blank">first LEED® certified store</a> and achieved the Silver Certification level, making it the first LEED® Silver store in Latin America.

Committed to helping coffee growers and workers who represent Starbucks collective supply chain, Starbucks opens <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-farmer-support-centers/" target="_blank">its second Farmer Support Center</a> in Latin American and the Caribbean region in Manizales, Colombia.

Opens its first <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2013/innovative-new-drive-thrus/" target="_blank">store made from reclaimed end-of-life shipping containers</a>. Starbucks would go on to open more than 45 of these modular stores in the United States, and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-opens-first-container-store-in-taiwan/" target="_blank">more around the world</a>.

Opens Farmer Support Centers in Manizales, Colombia and Yunnan, China.

Purchases Hacienda Alsacia, its first 240-hectare coffee farm in Costa Rica, to serve as a global agronomy Research and Development facility and working farm. 

Offers a $1 reusable cup in the U.S. and Canada, and a £1 cup in the United Kingdom to help reduce cup waste.

Starbucks Japan offers environmentally friendly napkins made from 70 percent post-consumer recycled milk-carton fiber and 30 percent FSC® certified paper. 

Opens 500th LEED® certified store, more than any other retailer in the world.

<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://news.starbucks.com/news/recycling-in-one-of-the-worlds-largest-coffee-roasting-plants" target="_blank">York Roasting Plant</a> achieves 100 percent zero waste certification.

Is a founding partner with Conservation International and other industry leaders to launch the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/making-coffee-the-worlds-first-sustainably-sourced-agriculture-product/" target="_blank">Sustainable Coffee Challenge</a>, an effort to make coffee the world’s first sustainable agricultural product.

Launches <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2016/one-bag-for-every-tree-10-million-trees-milestone/" target="_blank">One Tree for Every Bag</a> program, which provides more than 25 million rust-resistant coffee trees to farmers whose farms are affected by coffee rust.

Purchases enough renewable energy to power 100% of its company-operated stores in the U.S., Canada and UK.

Reaches <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-ethical-sourcing-program/">99 percent ethically-sourced</a> coffee milestone with Conservation International.

Achieves its 25 percent water reduction target through global water conservation measures.

Announces additional commitment of $30 million as part of its <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-more-than-doubles-global-farmer-loan-commitment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Global Farmer Fund</a> program, which supports coffee farmers in improving the infrastructure on their farms and replacing older coffee trees with new ones.

Introduces coconutmilk, a non-dairy milk alternative.

Completes global rollout of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/earthsleeve-global-rollout/" target="_blank">new cup sleeves</a>, which are made from less paper and more post-consumer fiber.

Introduces almondmilk, a non-dairy milk alternative.

Issues its first Sustainability Bond in the United States.

Reaches milestone of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-opens-1000th-leed-certified-store" target="_blank">1,000 LEED certified stores</a> in 20 countries, including the historic Starbucks Roastery in Seattle.

Opens its third Farmers Support Center in Latin America, in Chiapas, Mexico, to offer technical support to coffee producers.

Partners with Feeding America to launch its <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2016/starbucks-food-donation-program/" target="_blank">FoodShare food donation program</a> with a goal to rescue 100 percent of food available to donate from U.S. stores by the end of 2020.

Launches <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-partners-for-sustainability/" target="_blank">Greener Apron program</a> for partners to become certified in environmental sustainability.

Announces commitment to provide <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2017/starbucks-100million-coffee-trees/" target="_blank">100 million climate-resilient coffee trees</a> to farmers by 2025.

Launches “Alimento para Compartir” in Mexico, a program that seeks to contribute to fight food insecurity in Mexico City and six other states.

Issues its second Sustainability Bond, this time in Japan.

<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2017/starbucks-uk-to-tackle-food-waste-with-charity-partner-action-against-hunge/" target="_blank">Expands food waste initiatives across EMEA</a>.

Eliminates straws in all Starbucks stores in Korea through strawless lids and paper straw alternatives.

Achieves 98 percent recycling of coffee grounds in Korea.

<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2018/starbucks-rolls-out-5p-paper-cup-charge-to-all-stores-across-britain/" target="_blank">Rolls out 5p Paper Cup Charge</a> in Starbucks stores in the UK

Achieves 100 percent zero waste certification at the Starbucks roasting plant in Carson Valley, Nev.

Opens Hacienda Alsacia Visitor Center to welcome visitors from around the world to experience Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia coffee farm, a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/starbucks-farm-research-and-innovation/" target="_blank">hub for coffee research and innovation</a>.

Invests in <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2018/solar-and-wind-power-fuel-starbucks-store/" target="_blank">North Carolina solar farm</a> to power 600 Starbucks stores in North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., as well solar farms in <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/starbucks-and-cypress-creek-solar-farms-team-up-to-power-360-stores-in-texas/" target="_blank">Texas</a>, providing enough energy for the equivalent of 360 Starbucks stores across the state.

Sustainability has been at our core since the beginning, back when Starbucks began in 1971. Read on to learn about Starbucks sustainability milestones.

Starbucks Sustainability Timeline

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2020/starbucks-sustainability-timeline/

Today in a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/kevin-johnson-letter-sustainability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="public letter (opens in a new tab)">public letter</a> citing the company’s enduring mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit, Starbucks chief executive officer Kevin Johnson announced a multi-decade commitment to be a resource-positive company, aspiring to give more than it takes from the planet.

The announcement included science-based preliminary targets for the reduction of carbon emissions, water use and waste by 2030, and outlined five strategies the company has identified to move toward them.

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Learn more about our sustainability initiatives:

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Starbucks is committed to becoming resource positive. Here's a look at our 2030 preliminary targets.

Starbucks Sustainability Commitment Infographic

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Infographic: Starbucks Sustainability Commitment

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