By Jocelyn Katz and Shelby Tuttle

Shifting consumer interests has placed the coffee industry at a crossroads. A little more than 15 years ago, when the world was emerging from the effects of the Great Recession, and the reality of climate change was still contested at nearly every turn, many corporations were more concerned with lowering costs than doing what they could to help the planet, and our (disposable) morning cup of joe wasn’t something we thought as of as a threat to the environment. 

In reality, the industry overwhelms landfills with millions of tons of waste, relying heavily on disposable cups, plastic lids, and unsustainable practices. The average American coffee drinker unknowingly goes through hundreds of disposable cups annually — each used for only minutes but leaving an environmental footprint that lasts for centuries. Even our cardboard cups are largely coated with plastic, taking as many as 20-30 years to break down in a landfill.

However, with coffee consumers increasingly interested in a greener lifestyle and environmental threats becoming more urgent, many corporations are taking measures to embrace sustainability. Here’s a look at a few companies and their programs that help javaphiles lessen the environmental impact of their morning coffee run.

Starbucks Reusable Cup Program

The coffee giant made headlines last year by expanding its reusable cup program to include drive-through and mobile orders — an operational change that environmental advocates and loyal patrons have long requested. The company allows customers to bring their own clean personal tumbler, thermos, or travel mug to be filled with their beverage of choice. To assure sanitary measures, if your cup has a lid, you’ll simply hold onto it and place it on your cup once it’s filled with your favorite beverage. 

“Customers at participating stores in the U.S. and Canada who use their cup will receive a 10-cent discount on their beverage,” according to a Starbucks announcement. If you’re a Starbucks Rewards member, the company committed to making your morning latte a little more rewarding by offering an additional 25 bonus stars when you bring a cup from home.

Additional efforts by the company include piloting a commercially compostable cup in select markets; rolling out a more sustainable and accessible cold cup made with up to 20% less plastic; redesigning straws to be made with paper or compostable material; phasing out lid stoppers in favor of recyclable lid stickers; and investing in reusable ceramic mugs and glassware for customers who prefer to sit and stay a while.  

Peet’s Coffee Champions Customer Choice

In 2024, Peet’s Coffee increased the discount for its Bring Your Own Cup program to 25 cents for any drink — hot or cold — and brought back porcelain cups for dine-in customers for the first time since the pandemic. In addition to customer-facing programs, the company is dedicated to comprehensive sustainability through its “Common Grounds” program, built on responsible sourcing, minimizing its environmental footprint, and connecting people. 

Peet’s achieved 100% responsibly sourced coffee in 2022, verified by Enveritas, and actively support farmers through audits, training, and community projects while also prioritizing direct trade relationships. To minimize its carbon footprint, Peet’s has set SBTi-validated targets for emissions reduction, aiming for net-zero by 2050, and focuses on renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, waste and water reduction, and sustainable packaging with a goal of 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2030. 

Cartel Roasting Co. Offers Generous Incentives

Arizona-based Cartel Roasting Co. (with locations also in California) encourages environmental responsibility by rewarding customers who bring their own cup with a 25-cent discount on all beverages. The Phoenix favorite also allows customers to refill daily drip, tea, and cold brews for a discounted price. For every 10 times you bring in your own cup, you’ll earn a free beverage courtesy of Cartel. Love making coffee at home? Bring back ten empty Cartel coffee bags, and they’ll give you a bag of whole bean coffee on the house.

Furthermore, Cartel has taken steps to reduce waste by introducing in-house made organic oat and cashew milk using Numilk machines, which significantly reduces packaging and emissions associated with commercial alternative milks. With this system, Cartel cuts down on packaging waste by about 13,000 pounds each year and reduces emissions by 18.22 tons annually. The company also supports sustainable farming methods and climate-smart agricultural techniques, such as shade-grown coffee and soil conservation, which help to mitigate the effects of climate change.Cartel also demonstrates a commitment to community by donating a portion of the proceeds from its “Give Back Blend” to local non-profits.