10 October 2008
After a determined attempt to hold the line in the face of sharp media criticism, Starbucks issued a statement last night capitulating to pressure to turn off the taps in its 16,548 stores.
Starbucks has been fighting a losing policy to defend its water-use policy since Monday when The Sun carried an investigative piece under the headline The Great Drain Robbery alleging that Starbucks’ spoon-cleaning procedure saw it waste 23.4 million litres of water every day.
Starbucks had insisted that the use of the offending “dipper wells” was “a common and well accepted technique in the industry” and even went so far as to claim that “the system ensures that we meet or exceed our own and local health standards”. But after meeting almost universal condemnation, Starbucks relented, confirming last night that “a new interim operational procedure” will be introduced today.
A Starbucks spokesman thanked The Sun for “emphasising the need to resolve the matter’ and said: “Stores will be instructed to switch off the dipper well tap and will wash spoons after use. In this way we can ensure that we balance UK and Ireland food hygiene requirements with water conservation.”
Jacob Tompkins, director of charity Waterwise, unreservedly welcomed the volte face: “We believe that this is a highly effective interim solution, which balances water saving and hygiene standards. Starbucks prompt action on this matter is commendable and shows its commitment to improving its environmental practices.”
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