Starbucks Expands Global Greener Stores Program; Announces First Four Certified Greener Stores in Costa Rica


  • Starbucks certifies 6,000 Greener Stores in over 40 markets, advancing progress towards resource positive goals.
  • The Alsacia store – located at Starbucks first and only coffee farm Hacienda Alsacia in the Alajuela province – and the Valencia, Al Este, and San Rafael Escazu stores – located in the San José province – are designed to deliver more than a 30% improvement in store water use, between 10 and 75% landfill diversion based on local infrastructure and more than 25% improvement in energy performance.
  • As of 2024, Starbucks in Latin America and the Caribbean will build all new stores in the region under the Greener Stores Framework.

San José, Costa Rica – Starbucks today announced the certification of its first four Greener Stores in Costa Rica, as the company accelerates the international expansion of its open-source Greener Store Framework intended to reduce global carbon emissions, water usage and waste sent to landfills by 50% by 2030. Located in Costa Rica’s Alajuela and San José provinces and operated in partnership with Premium Restaurants of America, the four stores will help reduce Starbucks environmental impact by providing customers with a range of options suited to their preferences while ensuring sustainable practices and materials. Notably, one of the recently certified stores is located at Hacienda Alsacia Visitor Center – Starbucks first and only coffee farm and global agronomy headquarters.

The Visitor Center café at Starbucks first and only coffee farm, Hacienda Alsacia, is now certified as a Starbucks Greener Store. Photo by Matt Glac.

The Valencia, Al Este, San Rafael Escazu stores adhere to the Starbucks Greener Store Framework through a more efficient use of resources, including installing energy rated appliances and equipment and low-flow plumbing fixtures; minimizing waste through reuse and Starbucks Grounds For Your Garden program; building with responsible materials; and promoting healthy store environments where Starbucks designers have developed a suite of policies to ensure an approachable store for our partners and customers.

The Alsacia store located in the Hacienda Alsacia Visitor Center is an open-air structure and runs entirely on solar power. Surrounding plants are indigenous to Costa Rica and low-maintenance species, and all furniture and textiles were sourced by local artisans. The store also features EV charging stations, a thriving For-Here-Ware and Grounds for Your Garden program, and a mixed recycling plan that tracks the diversion on a monthly basis.

“Starbucks is proud to continue adding to our commitment to the planet by certifying 4 Greener Stores in Costa Rica. This is an effort by all our partners, and we are confident that these Greener Stores will be the first four of many more to come. In a country like Costa Rica, contributing to a greener planet is essential, and that is why at Starbucks, we continue to prioritize initiatives that help protect the planet we share," said Leslie Recio, Country Manager of Starbucks Costa Rica.

Starbucks Greener Store Framework was co-developed with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to accelerate the transformation of retail towards lower-impact stores that demonstrate reductions in carbon emissions, water usage and landfill waste. Starbucks has committed to building and retrofitting 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025, a major step in leveraging its goal to accelerate the global movement towards a more sustainable future.

Since announcing the international expansion of Greener Stores in September 2021, Starbucks has implemented a global framework of design, construction and operations standards to certify new Greener Stores around the world. As of March 2024, Greener Stores have been certified in more than 40 markets globally; in Latin America and the Caribbean, this includes: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, in addition to Costa Rica.

“We’re excited to be making progress toward our goal of 10,000 Starbucks Greener Stores globally, a key strategy to achieve our environmental promise," said Michael Kobori, Starbucks chief sustainability officer. "Our Greener Stores are possible thanks to our store partners and their commitment to sustainability. Together, we're continuing to build a sustainable future for our communities and the planet.”