Starbucks plans to stop serving all dairy milk by 2030 to fight climate change

Question

 I saw it in a Guardian article titled “Starbucks to phase out dairy to meet climate goals,” and it’s also being shared a lot on social media, with some people saying Starbucks is “banning milk.” I’m not sure if this is actually true or if it’s just a rumor based on the company’s goal to offer more plant-based options. I’d like to fact-check whether Starbucks really announced a full removal of dairy products by 2030 or if people are misinterpreting their sustainability plans.

Answer 1

This claim is not true. On the Starbucks website, under their sustainable initiatives, there is no mention of any initiative to phase out dairy. Rather there are initiatives to cut down carbon emissions through focusing on plant based offerings, making these offerings more accessible to customers. They intend to make it more accesibble by making plant based offerings free to substitute for dairy products. Additionally, they have invested in sustainable dairy practices rather than cutting down dairy products.

https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2023/starbucks-furthers-commitment-to-sustainable-dairy/

Comments

I agree with your statement, in almost all of Starbucks drinks, they'll include a form of dairy, it is one of their consumer selling points. Starbucks is partnered with dairy cooperatives and farmers around the world.

Answer 2

This claim is not true. Starbucks has not announced any plans to phase out milk by 2030. However, they have announced intentions to minimize their environmental footprint by 2030. In 2024, Starbucks did confirm that it would work with its entire US dairy supply chain to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2030 via its Sustainable Dairy Program. Perhaps this is where the confusion arose from.
https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2023/starbucks-furthers-commitment-to-sustainable-dairy