Starbucks plans to stop serving all dairy milk by 2030 to fight climate change

Question

 I saw it in a Guardian article titled “Starbucks to phase out dairy to meet climate goals,” and it’s also being shared a lot on social media, with some people saying Starbucks is “banning milk.” I’m not sure if this is actually true or if it’s just a rumor based on the company’s goal to offer more plant-based options. I’d like to fact-check whether Starbucks really announced a full removal of dairy products by 2030 or if people are misinterpreting their sustainability plans.

Answer 1

This claim is not true. On the Starbucks website, under their sustainable initiatives, there is no mention of any initiative to phase out dairy. Rather there are initiatives to cut down carbon emissions through focusing on plant based offerings, making these offerings more accessible to customers. They intend to make it more accesibble by making plant based offerings free to substitute for dairy products. Additionally, they have invested in sustainable dairy practices rather than cutting down dairy products.

https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2023/starbucks-furthers-commitment-to-sustainable-dairy/

Comments

I agree with your statement, in almost all of Starbucks drinks, they'll include a form of dairy, it is one of their consumer selling points. Starbucks is partnered with dairy cooperatives and farmers around the world.

Answer 2

This claim is not true. Starbucks has not announced any plans to phase out milk by 2030. However, they have announced intentions to minimize their environmental footprint by 2030. In 2024, Starbucks did confirm that it would work with its entire US dairy supply chain to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2030 via its Sustainable Dairy Program. Perhaps this is where the confusion arose from.
https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2023/starbucks-furthers-commitment-to-sustainable-dairy

Answer 3

The claim that Starbucks will completely get rid of dairy by 2025 is false. According to Starbucks they plan on doing different projects like water project funding and planting cover crops to capture carbon, this will allow them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “By 2030, the cafe chain is targeting 50% reductions in carbon emissions, water withdrawal, and waste sent to landfills” (https://fortune.com/2020/01/21/starbucks-carbon-footprint-dairy/). This is in action because in 2018 Starbucks emitted 16 metric tons of greenhouse gasses. “Around March of this year, the company plans to begin testing a paper cup it’s been developing with partners seeking a more widely recyclable and compostable hot-drink container” (https://financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/starbucks-to-push-customers-to-ditch-dairy-for-alternative-milk-as-it-moves-to-cut-carbon-footprint). Starbucks will continue to work with dairy farms to decrease carbon dioxide emissions. “Over the past few years, Starbucks has been partnering with dairy cooperatives and farmers to implement solutions across our supply chain and is positioned to expand within its company-operated markets around the world” (https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2023/starbucks-furthers-commitment-to-sustainable-dairy/).

Starbuck is taking action to help the environment by reducing dairy and getting rid of plastic cups but getting rid of all dairy isn't true.