Starbucks has had 50+ years to figure out where its coffee comes from — and its 2025 Impact Report suggests it’s been paying attention.
The company published the report this week, laying out progress across coffee sourcing, climate resilience, renewable energy, and worker development. It’s a lot to take in, so here’s the short version.
The beans check out
More than 99% of Starbucks’ coffee was sourced from supply chains verified under C.A.F.E. Practices in 2025 — a standard the company developed with Conservation International over two decades ago. Think of it as a passport system for coffee: farms must prove how they grow, process, and trade before the beans make it into your morning flat white.
Key details:
- Starbucks hit its 2017 goal of donating 100 million climate-resistant coffee trees to farmers in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico
- The company has invested $200m in coffee sustainability to date, plus $325m in renewable energy and $50m in water equity funds
- 100% of electricity for company-operated coffeehouses globally (outside China) now comes from renewable sources via PPAs, RECs, and direct investments
- Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions are down 17% since 2019 — though the company is now quietly reassessing its 2030 target of a 50% absolute cut
- The FoodShare programme donated more than 16 million meals last year, with $16.4m reinvested in hunger relief
On the workforce side, Starbucks’ College Achievement Plan — which covers 100% of tuition for eligible US employees pursuing online degrees at Arizona State University — has now seen nearly 17,000 graduates since launch.
Zoom out…
The headline figures are strong, but the quiet walk-back on the 2030 emissions target is worth watching. Supply chain sustainability is fast becoming table stakes for global brands, and investors are keeping score. Starbucks has the infrastructure — whether it tightens the goalposts again will be the real story.