Over the summer, Starbucks released new biodegradable cups for cold beverages in U.S. counties whose environmental laws require it. Out of the 12 Starbucks in Carlsbad, many of the stores switched to the new cups, and some Carlsbad students see the change as controversial.
Many CHS students feel that the new cardboard cups are not a good alternative to the plastic cups. One of the main reasons for this dislike is because people think that the cups are unattractive since they don’t show the drink inside.
“I feel horrible about the new cups,” junior Thea Groves said. “I think they’re ugly and I hate the dome lids. They are disgusting. I also don’t like the cardboard cups because I can’t see what I’m drinking.”
Some students are even traveling to farther Starbucks locations because they are outside of Carlsbad, meaning they still use the clear cups. This can add additional time to a driving trip, but some students don’t care because they want the clear cup.
“I have been specifically going to the Oceanside Starbucks instead of the Carlsbad Starbucks, which is completely out of my way, because they have the clear cup,” junior Samia Homsy said.
The new cup mandate has also decreased the amount of business some students give to Carlsbad Starbucks locations. With the increased amount of students traveling farther to buy Starbucks, many don’t find the time to go before other activities.
“I go to Starbucks around five times per week,” Groves said. “But now I don’t go as much, because the locations with clear cups are too far to go to before school.”
Many students also feel that the biodegradable cups don’t fit with Starbucks branding. Most of the drinks are made to be seen through the cup, so the designs the baristas are spending their time on go unnoticed.
“I hate how [the cups] are not clear,” Homsy said. “It’s so ridiculous because [the baristas] are spending all this time making the drink look pretty and they’re putting in all the extra additions, the spices, the foams and I can’t even see it because it’s not clear.”
In addition to the biodegradable cups, Starbucks has also been including paper straws in replacement for the plastic ones. Some students also dislike this new feature as well and think it is not long lasting enough for people to enjoy their drinks.
“It’s disgusting, it gets stuck in the cups and I can’t pull it up and then it breaks,” sophomore Linden Robinson said.
Many students feel that the new cups and straws aren’t practical because they start to dissolve rapidly. Students believe that both of the new additions make it difficult to drink the beverage over a longer period of time.
“If you leave the drink for too long then it starts to dissolve,” Homsy said. “It takes me a while to drink my drink, but because the [straw is] paper, by the time I’m not even done yet, the paper’s dissolving and soggy.”
Most students understand that the change is for a good cause, but find it difficult to support and indulge in it when the products used are not reliable. Freshman Charlie Scholmin claims that this change makes her go to Starbucks less and many others feel the same.
“I get that they’re trying to make it more environmentally friendly and that’s important,” Charlie “But it makes me not want to buy Starbucks because of the paper straws and cups.”
Many students believe that Starbucks should continue to move towards more environmentally friendly options, however some would like it to be in a different way. Some believe that instead of focusing on biodegradable cups, Starbucks should move towards promoting reusable options instead.
“I would not choose to go back to the old cups [because they’re bad for the environment],” Homsy said. “I think Starbucks should promote using reusable cups in the future.”
