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. . . and Starbucks is caught wide-eyed in the headlights. Seems that despite their hype about recycling,
their cups are not in fact recyclable.
What?! Yeah, you heard me . . . ‘Barista? May I get some egg on my face to go with the joe?’
While Starbucks promotes (key distinction) green activities such as recycling, they don’t
actually do it.
Read the article clip below from The Columbus Dispatch. Heh . . . nice to know there’s a newspaper out there still practicing journalism.
Apparently, Starbucks has taken a page from the Al Gore do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do playbook, even to the point of pleas to “Help us help the planet” printed on the sleeves of those same non-recyclable cups.
But it seems that the planet doesn’t need saving when it comes to their bottom-line. Just as Gore’s “planetary emergency” doesn’t prevent him from hopping on private jets and dumping more CO2 in the air during one trip than an SUV dumps in a year of trips.
How could this be happening? Easy enough to understand when you do your detective work.
You see, thanks to Gore, the environmental lobbyists and a very gullible, but well-intentioned public who believe what people tell them rather than asking the Hard Questions and doing their own research — there’s big money and tons of free publicity to be had when you ‘be green.’
Starbucks got busted on this one, but there’s plenty more out there who on cashing in on the ‘green movement’ and banking on the folks’ gullibility.*
Here’s the clip from The Columbus Dispatch, but click the link to get the entire education . . .
“Starbucks goes through roughly 2.3 billion paper cups a year and touts its national award for using cups made of 10 percent recycled material.
The sleeves on the cups even plead, “Help us help the planet.”
But don’t be confused. Starbucks promotes recycling on its cups, but the cups themselves aren’t recyclable here or in most other cities nationwide.”
The Columbus Dispatch : Starbucks: Coating on coffee cups puts lid on recycling
Back in March and June I wrote about the potential shenanigans of the “green movement” here and here (and shenanigans is always the name of the game when Big Money is involved). That reportage has proved to be so spot-on over the ensuing months, that I now look like a prophet.
* = To be fair, there are also many companies that are walking their talking about ‘being green.’
Like what you read? Then click here to buy me a coffee.
By Walter |
Topics: Lessons Learned, Marketing Mishaps, Pet Peeves |
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Comments
their cups are not in fact recyclable.
October 26th, 2007 at 6:43 am
Wow. Great post and a great warning that authentically being green is much different from just talking the talk. I think most people see that a lot of companies tout being green simply to try to increase profits and not offend a seemingly strong and powerful green movement. This latter part, however, is where the danger begins because green may never be green enough.
I just recently commented on the same topic at:
http://www.dolakblog.com/2007/10/is-green-marketing-smart-strategy.html
I’m curious to see what kind comments you get!
================================================
Walter comments:
There is a huge intimidation factor in play, Dave. I first started breaking this story last year and now more and more people are waking up to it and of course, reporting on it. Just like my coverage of Al Gore and others who are not practicing what they’re preaching.
My hapless friend (first chronicled here: http://roicopy.com/2007/06/05/how-to-avoid-being-brainwashed-by-the-birkenstocks/) now has 6 months under her belt of dealing with the questionable “green certification” issue. Her company put in over $1M worth of “green” upgrades to a customer’s building in order for them to become “green certified.” Right next door, building management put in a bike rack for a couple of hundred bucks.
They both got the same number of “green points.” Did you catch that? $1M vs $200.
Though she ardently questioned my conclusions when we met for dinner, after 6 months she’s willing to concede that there are factors in play in green marketing that are not obvious.
Thanks for the comment!