Starbucks breeding like bunnies

Sure wish they’d go green 4

So this weekend I had the great pleasure of roaming around Manhattan, popping my head into generally closed-to-the-public spaces as part of the annual Open House New York. Among my favorite stops was a small shop in the East village called Build A Green Bakery. Apart from its divine chocolate-chip cookies, the bakery has made a small name for itself for being environmentally conscious, in everything from its supply chain to its ultra-green storefront. (Take a virtual tour and check out the materials they used).

I am thrilled that Build a Green Bakery is making such noble attempts to combat energy waste and pollution, but they are just one drop in a very large sea of bakery/cafes. Meanwhile, I am watching Starbucks stores breed like bunnies in surrounding Manhattan office buildings. I am beginning to think that Starbucks has a corporate rule of thumb: if you are at one Starbucks location and you can't see another from where you are standing, someone better get a-buildin'. And now the Seattle-based chain hopes to launch 40,000 new stores worldwide, tripling the current number.

Now if only Starbucks, like Wal-Mart, would catch the green bug, then we might really have some change brewing.

Maywa Montenegro is an editor and writer at Seed magazine, focusing mainly on ecology, bidiversity, agriculture, and sustainable development.

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  1. Newsquoter Posted 9:06 pm
    11 Oct 2006

    More Coffee ShopsWill the rising number of coffee shops have a detrimental effect on our health? According to Rachel Hartley of Nutracheck, coffee shop products can be as calorific and unhealthy as fast food:
    Coffee shop products can be as calorific and unhealthy as fast food

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  2. Sarah K. Burkhalter's avatar

    Sarah K. Burkhalter Posted 4:00 am
    12 Oct 2006

    StarbuckedI had Starbucks yesterday (forgive me, for I was in an airport with limited options and a desperate need for caffeine) and was amused by their hot-drink sleeves, which boast X percent post-consumer recycled content (I can't remember how much now) and then quickly admonish, "This sleeve is only meant to be used once." Or something along those lines.
    Basically, "This is recycled, so throw it away." Does the sleeve lose its effectiveness after being used once? C'mon.

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  3. Mikelevy Posted 4:29 am
    12 Oct 2006

    Dressing for coffee"People who put both feet in one trouser leg shuffle through life."_Michael Levy

    In Love & Joy

    Michael Levy. Professional Optimist

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  4. Moran Posted 4:50 am
    12 Oct 2006

    Starbucks should go greenYes, Starbucks is everywhere and markets itself as socially responsible, and yet still uses milk made with artificial growth hormones (http://www.holdthehormones.org) and doesn't do nearly enough on fair trade coffee. Le sigh.

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