Starbucks Makes Major Change to Its Rewards Program
Starbucks has updated its Terms of Purchase, which changes the way Stars are accumulated.
Starbucks has made a major change to its rewards program that will change the way Stars are accumulated.
Effective June 24, Starbucks revamped its rewards for customers who bring their own to-go cups to stores, per its updated Terms of Purchase. Instead of earning 25 Bonus Stars per order, customers will receive double Stars on their entire purchase.
This means patrons will have to spend at least $12.50 to earn the same 25 Stars as before. While this could be a win for customers with larger orders, those with smaller purchases may see fewer rewards.
The updated rewards program benefits customers who tend to place larger orders or bring multiple reusable cups in for a refill. Under the current system, customers earn just 25 Bonus Stars per visit, no matter how many drinks or cups they bring in. However, under the new rule, patrons will be able to earn more Stars based on the total amount they spend, making it even more rewarding to order multiple drinks in reusable cups.
Starbucks Rolled Out Reusable Cup Initiative Across US and Canada in 2024
In January 2024, Starbucks announced that all customers patronizing stores across the U.S. and Canada could use their own clean personal cups when ordering in a café, in the drive-thru, or ahead with the app. This initiative opened the door for more customers to opt for reusable cups while advancing the company’s goal to cut waste in half by 2030.
Michael Kobori, the company’s chief sustainability officer, stated at the time in a press release, “At Starbucks, we envision a future where every beverage can be served in a reusable cup. Offering customers more options to use a personal cup when they visit Starbucks marks tangible progress towards the future. We know our customers are passionate about the planet, and now, they can join us in our efforts to give more than we take, no matter how they order.”
This initiative is part of the retailer’s broader effort to make reusables the new norm. Thus, offering customers an easy and convenient way to bring their own cup on every visit, helping reduce reliance on single-use plastics.
“As we know, the most sustainable cup is likely the one you already own. Bringing your own cup to stores is a critical step toward reducing single-use packaging waste. Starbucks is a leader in this work, as the first national retailer of scale to offer personal cup ordering in every channel, including mobile order,” said Kate Daly, managing director and head of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners. “The NextGen Consortium is proud to have Starbucks as a founding member of the Consortium to reduce packaging waste and looks forward to supporting Starbucks in their work to advance a waste-free world.”
