With a simple swipe, Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX) customers can join Conservation International (CI) to help protect forests and the life that exists within them as well as fight climate change.
Starting March 9 and through December 31, 2010, every time a customer pays with a Conservation International Starbucks Card at participating stores in the U.S., Starbucks will donate five cents to CI to help protect forests.
Making a difference can start with small, simple efforts. The five cents donated by Starbucks with each purchase will provide contributions to support CI’s work to protect and restore forests, essential steps to addressing climate change. As a company that relies on coffee as an agricultural product, Starbucks knows firsthand the importance of protecting the environment. The company has worked with CI for more than 10 years to help support responsible coffee farming, protect biodiversity, and reduce coffee farming impacts on climate in an effort to sustain the supply of the world’s best coffee.
“The involvement of Starbucks and their customers provides a tremendous boost to global forest conservation and climate solutions,” says Justin Ward, vice president of business practices at Conservation International.
“We value our long term relationship with Starbucks and we are pleased that support raised from the Preservation Card will benefit sustainable management of the world’s natural resources.”
The new CI Card, made with at least 80 percent post-industrial recycled materials, is a stored value card that can be given as a gift or loaded for personal use.
Customers can also register their card online at the Starbucks Web site to receive benefits through the My Starbucks Rewards program.
“We have long shared our customers’ commitment to the environment,” says Ben Packard, vice president of Starbucks Global Responsibility. “Partnering with organizations like Conservation International allows Starbucks to give our customers an opportunity to make simple, sustainable decisions that collectively make a big difference.”