On May 22, 2026, a report by Beyond Plastics has raised serious questions about Starbucks' sustainability claims, particularly concerning its cold beverage cups made from polypropylene. The investigation tracked 53 cups placed in recycling bins across 35 Starbucks locations over a three-month period and found that none were sent to recycling facilities. Instead, they were disposed of in landfills or incinerators.

The cups, labeled as “widely recyclable” by Starbucks, were found to be misleading according to the organization’s findings. Judith Enck, the president of Beyond Plastics, stated, “Starbucks is telling its customers that these plastic cups get recycled, but our trackers tell a different story — they're ending up in landfills and incinerators.” This revelation challenges the notion that the company is effectively engaging in recycling practices.

The study demonstrated that of the 36 tracked cups that returned data, 16 ended up in landfills, 9 at incinerators, and 8 were last detected at waste-transfer stations, the latter being critical junctures leading to disposal, not recycling. The findings have led to calls for Starbucks to stop making claims that mislead customers regarding the recyclability of its products.

Starbucks had previously announced that its polypropylene cups earned the widely recyclable designation from the How2Recycle program, meaning more than 60% of U.S. households can theoretically recycle them. However, access to actual recycling for this type of plastic remains limited, with the overall U.S. recycling rate for plastics being less than 6%.

This controversy underscores the broader issue of corporate responsibility in addressing environmental sustainability, calling into question the effectiveness of current recycling initiatives and the integrity of claims made by major companies regarding their products' recyclability. As consumer awareness grows, advocates are calling for tangible action towards creating better recycling systems and moving toward reusable alternatives to combat plastic waste.