Starbucks Offers Discounts and Bonus Rewards for Customers Who Bring Their Own Cups to Drive-Thru and Mobile Orders

Starbucks announced Wednesday that it will now allow customers to use their own personal cups for all visits, including drive-through and mobile orders. The Seattle-based coffee chain is the first national coffeehouse to offer personal cups for mobile orders, and the move is part of its commitment to reduce waste by 50 percent by 2030.

Customers who bring a clean, personal cup to the drive-thru will receive a 10 cent discount on their beverage and 25 bonus stars for U.S. Starbucks rewards. When placing a mobile order, customers should inform employees at their local drive-thru that they have brought their own cup. A barista will then collect the cup at the pickup window using a “contactless vessel” and return the cup with the beverage.

“Offering customers more options to use a personal cup when they visit Starbucks marks tangible progress towards the future,” said Starbucks Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Kobori. “With the majority of Starbucks beverages enjoyed on-the-go, this milestone unlocks a big opportunity for customers to choose reusables and supports Starbucks commitment to reduce waste by 50 percent by 2030.”

The move is part of Starbucks’ larger sustainability efforts, which include a commitment to use 100 percent reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025. The company has also implemented a 5p charge for disposable cups in the UK and Ireland, and is piloting a cup-sharing program in Seattle.

Starbucks’ new policy is a step in the right direction for reducing waste and incentivizing customers to bring their own cups. By offering a discount and bonus rewards, the company is encouraging customers to make a small change that can have a big impact.