Starbucks Speaks To HIV, Recycling Issues

Starbucks, home of the dark roast and the key to regularity, most of all, The Third Place, has issued limited-run cups with red heart designs in time for Hallmark’s favorite day of the year, but this design means more. The run of heart-emblazoned cups is an ode to the (RED) campaign, whose partners have helped bring consumers and big business together to raise money for the Global Fund, specifically to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa.

Starbucks announced that donations contributed via Starbucks purchases have resulted in enough money to cover 14 million days of medicine to treat people living with HIV in Africa. Among the Global Fund’s programs are medicine, testing and education, such as how to cut the transmission rate from mothers to babies.

Starbucks also kicked off the New Year by asking mayors and other city officials across the nation to help improve recycling programs. Starbucks is working with materials suppliers, cup manufacturers, retail and drink companies, environmental nonprofits and academia to work on creating a “comprehensive recyclable cup solution by 2012.” The java giant is also part of a pilot sponsored by Global Green USA’s Coalition for Resource Recovery to test how recycling results with paper cups with corrugated cardboard.

Click here for more information on Starbucks’ environmental initiatives