Beyond coffee: working to ethically source all our products.
From the cocoa found in our Starbucks® hot chocolate, to the teas in our Tazo® beverages, to the aprons worn by our baristas – we're are committed to making sure our products are produced in a responsible way.
That means working to ensure a long-term supply of quality products, and making a positive impact on the environment and in the communities where our products are sourced.
Cocoa
We're committed to purchasing cocoa that has been produced and traded in ethical, transparent and responsible ways. That's why we're working with the cocoa industry, growers, processors, exporters and manufacturers to develop a program that ensures that we buy cocoa in a way that is aligned with our ethical sourcing principles.
Tea
Tazo (our tea brand), is dedicated to bringing high-quality, distinctive blends to our customers. As a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, we're working along with other buyers to improve conditions across the tea industry.
We also reach out to communities that produce Tazo® tea ingredients through the CHAI (Community Health and Advancement Initiative) project, a joint partnership with Mercy Corps. This project targets the needs of tea- and spice-growing communities with health services and economic development. Since 2003, Starbucks and our tea suppliers have contributed $2.4 million, including $530,000 in fiscal 2008, to the CHAI project.
Products for our stores
The merchandise we buy to sell in our stores and for use in our operations is purchased with the same commitment to social and environmentally responsibility as our coffee, tea and cocoa. This not only supports the communities we buy from – it's also good for our business. We strengthen the reliability of our supply chain by working with suppliers who share our commitment to ethical sourcing.
