Starbucks starts rolling out "splash sticks"; watch for more litter in your neighborhood

Splash sticks -- plastic plugs for sip holes with tops in the shape of the Starbucks siren -- should be at all Starbucks stores by the end of the week, according to this story. (Read the USA Today story) |||| The blogger at Visions and Revisions Blog writes: "All I have to say is WOW. Another excellent use of our natural resources. Instead of encouraging people to stop driving around with their goddam coffee, or (still more unthinkable) sitting in the cafe to drink it, we're creating a whole new line of useless plastic toys that we'll find littered in the street along with the already-too-prevalent cups, sleeves, and lids." (Image by ShawnW)

Comments

[earnestobserver]

For all of you who say Starbucks is great and hasn't moved away from its roots and can never do anything wrong, etc, etc. Please start to pull your head out of the sand and realize this company is severely confused. Splash sticks? How about foreign countries? How about new markets to saturate? How about leaving your POS stores in the US alone and going to build some more in China? Seriously, the company is beyond being your neighborhood coffee shop. Get over it people and discourage these stupid gimmicks.

Was this a result of something posted on mystarbucksidea? Regardless, terrible idea. Wake up.

[Vintage]

They probably would have done just fine with stickers to cover the opening. Starbucks is just trying to be unique. Valiant effort, but I agree that it's too much plastic for so simple a job.

[Ken]

Is there such a great need for these in the first place? I fail to see the point to these things at all. Why?

Another thing for people to complain about Starbucks. It seems has if they can never win, so what's the point anymore?

I get people always asking for something to cover the opening in their drinks. Splash sticks= problem solved.

BUT, I do think maybe we could make them out of something more...."green-related."

Actually, Ken, there was a HUGE demand for this sort of thing.

Stickers DO NOT work.

Once I carried a drink down the 16th street mall here in Denver because a customer had forgotten it and I was delivering a cambro down to their charity event. I put a sticker over the opening, and still 1/3 of the drink ended up all over my hand even with carrying it very cafefully.

I can't belive people are making a huge negative fuss about the splash sticks!

Customers LOVE THEM. We only give them to people who have multiple drinks its not like we're plugging every single drink with them.

All I can say is overall, everything Howard and the company has done in the last few months IS WORKING. My store has never seen so many happy customers. In fact we broke a sales record last week, and we weren't trending that way the weeks before.

[Eileen Shannon]

Thanks Starbucks, for the Splash Sticks! Is there a need for these things? Yes! Try buying a new car; driving across a cobblestone street; and spilling coffee all over the carpet. I don't mind paying a few bucks for a nice Latte, but a gummed horse-glue sticker seems unsanitary.

I received a Splash Stick and then re-used it the next day. It seems like I used less plastic than the self-closing lids. This is a great idea! Quit picking on Starbucks..... they are doing something to enhance my experience.

whats wrong with those lids that have the flap that you can fold down and cover the whole, and clip back when you want to drink. Didn't Dunkin Donuts have those? they worked just fine, and you dind't have a big green plastic mermaid sticking out of your cup of coffee.

Eileen Shannon, try buying a travel mug!

[STL Shift]

My only issue with these is the long stick. Won't coffee (and anything else in the cup) get dripped all over everything when the stick is removed? I'm sure customers will be complaining about that soon. The second version of these things need to have shorter sticks, or possibly none at all.

"they are doing something to enhance my experience."

Well, as long as you are happy Eileen, I guess thats all that matters.

How do you figure that a thick plastic splash stick uses less plastic then a flip up lid? If you re-use it everyday, yeah, maybe, but how many people are going to do that?

[pdx_barista]

Personally I don't think the splash sticks are the best option. Seems difficult to take it out while driving, then put it back in, all while steering. Seems like those lids that have the little piece that slides back and forth to open/close it would have been better, and would result in less waste. But at least there is something to cover the hole!

[herebutloud]

Well, maybe we should just encourage the re-use. Anyone remember being a kid and getting those sword-shaped toothpicks through a sandwich? Those were the COOLEST. Not to mention those little umbrellas that come in tropical beverage - also very cool. So, let's calm the _ down.

[Charmarie]

I actually appericiate this because I'm sick of my coffee splashing all over the damn place, however yes the potential for more trash is inevitable.

I did notice I got less coffee today then I did before so I'm paying $4.00 for a splash stick and a venti cup with grande coffee? Damn Starbucks!!

[Peaches]

You guys are hilarious. Customers have been asking for this for eternity. All of my regulars are ecstatic, and they reuse them. Stop complaining.

[NJ_Barista]

They are only for a limited time and you're supposed to save them and reuse them. they do not splash everywhere when you take them out and I think they're an awesome idea.

[MusicGal]

Peaches- I agree! Why does everyone (including our good ol' webmaster) have to paint this in such a negative light? So much for his claim that it's an objective site. I mean, how long have customers been asking for these? So when SBUX finally fulfills this customer request, the webmaster casts it in a very negative light.
I, for one, found that my customers loved them.

[Allison]

We've had these in my store and several other Central Florida stores since about January.

When I go for my weekend morning workout and stop at Starbucks for coffee for myself and my fiance afterwards, putting a splash stick in my fiance's venti bold is a nice way to avoid getting hot coffee all over myself (and my car interior) on the 10-minute drive home. It's also nice for the mornings when I grab a coffee or tea for a coworker when getting my own Starbucks drink.

I realize that it's more waste, but they are certainly a convenience!

[saturn_04]

I am simply amazed. I work here at the SSC in Seattle and I find some of these comments humorous at best. When might I find you marching the street out in front of our building over "evil splash sticks"? I've got a front row seat for that! woohoo!

[earnestobserver]

@ 1:03

"All I can say is overall, everything Howard and the company has done in the last few months IS WORKING. "

Really? Because from what I can tell the company is still down ~8% since Howard came back. Also still down 45% from the previous year. Hmm...

I know it is hard to admit, given most of you are employees, but this company is confused and trying to be all things to all people. Splash sticks won't improve sales or customer traffic.

[z]

WHOO HOO! lots more plastic! starbucks is so green- or at least they'll tell you that- just don't look at how much plastic they're using for a disposable stick...

Guys, this isn't new. I live in Japan right now, and they've had these at LEAST as long as I've been here (Last August). They don't use them that often - its more only if someone specifically asks for it

If you're concerned about the splash stick...get one and SAVE it and reuse it...or don't get one!...The funny thing is I'd be willing to bet the people on here complaining doen't even use travel mugs!

[Mike]

First and foremost, these are for customers who specifically ask for them only. Secondly, the only response I've gotten from my customers is "It's about time!"

I have had one in my car for the past 2 weeks and I re-use it every morning in my coffee! I just can't seem to find a cute Venti size travel mug (although I am looking), so I have to use a paper one, and this saves my car from being a mess during my 30 minute commute in stop and go traffic. I used to just stuff the hole with 4 or 5 stir sticks, a trick i learned when i was a barista, so this is actually saving resources... at least for me.

And for those of you who don't like the long stick, just snap it off. The plug part still fits in the hole just fine, and prevents leaking all the same.

I use a travel mug. I figure useing a travel mug is the VERY least I can do. Everyone seems so damn concened about the enviorment, but when it comes right down to it, does very little to help it. Useing a travel mug is the one of the easiest ways we all can do something. Think about someone that goes to starbucks every morning on thier way to work, and gets one cup of coffee, 5 times a week. Now, if they were to use a travel mug?
I think Starbucks should be pushing travel mugs, rather then pushing more plastic on use.

You guys are hilarious. Customers have been asking for this for eternity. All of my regulars are ecstatic, and they reuse them. Stop complaining.

Posted by: Peaches | Apr 14, 2008 1:59:51 PM

I seriously doubt that all of your customers will reuse them.

This company is so ridiculous. I mean, seriously. More profit gone off the balance sheet and more trash in the streets.

I can't possibly imagine a demand for this? And if there is any, it has to be extremely minimal.

Such a waste.

Starbucks cannot in good conscience claim to be "green." Wow. Simply, wow.

[Jim Lane]

The green siren is not green despite Howard's protestations to the opposite. Another bs solution. Why not small wood or bamboo - both are renewable, albeit, maybe not the best solution - but far better than plastic.

jim

Dito Mike! :)

[Elmo]

Let's face it: those sticks will be thrown away 99.9% of the time. That's a problem, both from an expense standpoint plus from a green standpoint.

OK, the answer is simple:

make a splash stick that goes into a tiny holder that's clipped on your key ring. Just carry it around with you.

You use the stick as needed, then when you're finished you lick it off and clip it back into its little holder.

Get your splash stick AND be green at the same time.

(and if they're smart, the lids will have holes shaped such that the splash stick will work with a SB lid but not a competitor's lid)

[Zipy]

doesn't coffee bean already have a plug thing like this? No logo or anything, but its not like starbucks just created a new waste item that no other place has.

[Monkey Moose]

Quite frankly (hate shields are active -- I'm ready) I don't care about conserving resources.

There. I said it. I do not care. If it takes an additional tree per morning, but it prevents me from spilling on my shoes, I'm happy.

Obviously, I'm exaggerating. If I knew that a product was actually taking a
tree per morning, I would not use it.

But, in general, I've combined the fact that I am a rational utility maximizing individual with a relatively short time horizon with the fact that I have a strong belief in the ultimate ability of human ingenuity and intelligence and technology to solve whatever problem might present. The result: I am more than happy to see the baby beaver killed, the forest consumed, or the third subspecies of Azores Pelican go extinct that I may drive a faster car, have a lighter computer, and, yes, have a disposable spill guard on my drink.

Take note: I am not being sarcastic. I'm being serious. And, whether they'll admit it or not (many will not in the current prevailing pc climate) there are many many many people who think exactly like me.

So ... get that roll out rolling Starbucks!

Customers amaze me, complain if you spill your drink, then complain if we try to do something about it. Are any of you ever happy??????

[atownsbuxrules]

When did so many of you complete the transition into cynical pessimists????

Christ, I pray I never work with any of you, that attitude is despicable.

Starbucks can never do ANYTHING right for some of you, so why are you here? Just bitch and bitch and bitch.

Quit your jobs already.

[Truly Green]

You can bet Starbucks will take out another full page ad in major papers claiming that it's a green company -- just as it introduces more plastic litter to the world.

Monkey Moose, I'm glad you have such a great life. Congrats. Your attitude is completly selfish. Do you have kids? For thier sakes, I hope not.

You should try, just for a day, to be a little less selfish, and a little more responsible. I assume you are the type of person that doesn't care how many people you scare or endager, you are going to drive as fast as you want, and listen to your music as loud as you want, becuse, well, its what you want to do.

[z]

the problem is these little plastic pre-garbage bits aren't made of trees, they're made of petroleum products, which we are currently losing lives in iraq over. so before you say "I don't care what it costs", realize that our dependence on foreign oil (and labor for that matter- 10-1 odds these things are made in china, who will own america soon) will cost you much more than the convenience of clean shoes soon.

Anonymous, Monkey Moose here:
As is usual in the world of internet blogs, you grabbed a piece of my comment that you found most emotively 'disturbing' and then responded.

"Look! This guy doesn't care about people! About the world!"

If you read everything I wrote, you'd realize that I simply have an optimistic (and, in my opinion, not unrealistic) view on the ability of mankind to craft solutions to our problems.

I can pretty much guarantee you: the solution to problems of global warming, pollution, trash, etc. when it comes, is NOT going to be some sort of 'we gained momentum, and convninced enough people to recycle, and, we all held hands and sang kumbya'.

It's going to come from technological-scientific breakthroughs. It's going to happen when it becomes economically efficient for it to happen (which I believe will be in this century). And the generation that experiences it - which, depending on how young or old you are, may very well be our/your generation - is going to look back with a mixture of amusement and befuddlement at the crazy people in 2008 who thought that they'd 'make a difference' with silly sh&^ like carping about plastic spill stoppers.

Yes, I know: it's not romantic to say this. It's not pretty. It doesn't appeal to a sense of community or 'helping hand' etc. But that's the reality. And, in the final analysis, it's actually not a bad reality: because we're going to take care of this AND I'll have my damn spill stopper ;)

Monkey Moose

(This is not to say that I still wouldn't be happy to see the baby beaver killed ... while sipping my Americano)

... am I kidding ...
probably not

[Geez]

The negativity on this site is deplorable. Customers have been asking for and reusing the splash sticks for some time now. They love them.
I'm really tired of all of the Starbucks bashing.
Get over it. This Starbucks terrorism is unnecessary. If you really want to spew your venom, aim it toward doing something productive like, hmmm... the election, world hunger/peace, etc...

[Tiff33]

I heard some stores will be closing in NJ/New york city area.... I want to try the last starbucks coffee before its closing, Does anyone know which stores will be closing???

[eeks.]

GET OVER IT.

[Rob]

Hey naysayers: yappity-yap-yap. Where were you guys 5-10 years ago when SBux was rocking the world - that's right, standing right there sucking up the juice. Now it ain't cool to be SBux friendly so off on that tangent you go. Get a freaking life!

[Hayley]

I love the stir sticks!
At my Starbucks the baristas only give them out to those who ask for them or some one getting multiple drip coffees to go.

And yes I reuse them, I have only two after about 10+ visits. one in my purse and one in my car. It's not hard at all to wash them and I'm sure they would act just fine as a stirrer too, so you can rest easier that a customer probably isn't using anything more than they would have anyway.
The fact that they keep my car and my clothes drip free is a wonderful thing!

[sfbuxmgr]

I don't think people are understanding that we are not putting these in every single drink! They are given out by request, and every time I give one out, I let the customer know that they are reusable. The customers who have seen the splash sticks love them and I've already seen a couple of them reuse the sticks. I don't see that big of environmental impact when you look at it in perspective. Think of all the plastic bottles, grocery bags, and other forms of packaging out there that gets tossed in the garbage everyday. The splash sticks on the other hand are absolutely tiny and we don't go through that many. The few who do ask for them love them. IF you want to be green, don't ask for a splash stick. Better yet, bring in your own mug and save a few cents.

[indie_mudslinger]

hm. you all kind of make me giggle. like first ever french press of freshly roasted Kona coffee giggle.

anyway. this is kind of ludicrous because the people who whine about how Starbucks is eco-unfriendly and yet still shop there are the same people who would whine and call Starbucks nazis if they tried to force every customer to be eco-friendly.

*tosses two pennies on table**

[HCO]

"whats wrong with those lids that have the flap that you can fold down and cover the whole, and clip back when you want to drink. Didn't Dunkin Donuts have those? they worked just fine, and you didn't have a big green plastic mermaid sticking out of your cup of coffee."

My store has these flats lids and guess what whenever it is placed on a cup a customer wants the other kind, even if they are traveling. do not blame starbucks they are only doing what you people wanted them to do

[Allie]

I agree with Monkey Moose. I don't go so far as to say "I am more than happy to see the baby beaver killed, the forest consumed, or the third subspecies of Azores Pelican go extinct that I may drive a faster car, have a lighter computer, and, yes, have a disposable spill guard on my drink" but all in all, as long as it doesn't affect me or affect anything remotely close to me I Don't Care. We'll either destroy ourselves and go extinct or the scientists will fix it. There is not going to be a rising up of all of humanity in 'going green.'

And we've been using those stir sticks for months. I think we give out 1 a day on average? Not a huge deal.

[Josefina]

So, Dunkin Donuts has those little plastic flaps that cover the hole on lids? Do they have ceramic mugs or other glassware that doesn't use trees or plastic like Starbucks has? I haven't been to Dunkin since I was 9, so I don't honestly know the answer to this question. I've been a barista for only 2 months, so maybe I haven't learned to be as jaded as a lot of others on this website, but I don't at all see why there is such angst against the company. In the end, the duty of Schultz and others is not to save the environment, cure cancer, or end world hunger, it is to MAKE MONEY. Quit acting like he and others are rogue philanthropists.

[Affogoto]

1) It's not starbucks' fault that people litter, we have 8 visible garbage cans in our small store both inside and outside as well as garbage cans outside our strip mall all along the walkway.
2) For those complaining that it'll be hard to plug/unplug while driving... consider not eating/drinking while driving... studies have shown it's almost as limiting as being impaired and driving.

"Really? Because from what I can tell the company is still down ~8% since Howard came back. Also still down 45% from the previous year. Hmm..."

That is the stock price, I was referring to current sales numbers and customer counts. The things we are rolling out right now won't impact stock price untill at least the end of the quarter when earnings are reported.