Maria Trujillo
AMA 101.0046
Prof. Iannuzo
April 1, 2009
Starbucks Corporate Citizenship
Starbucks is one of the biggest companies selling coffee and confections in retail stores;
but at the same time they also produce bottled coffee and sell coffee beans in supermarkets.
Starbucks is the most recognized and respected coffee maker brand in the world. Starbucks does
a very good job when it comes to the social and ethical responsibilities that all corporations have
with society. Most of the time consumers are more likely to make business with corporations
that use some of its profits to try to make the planet Earth a better world. Corporate social
responsibility is defined by Starbucks as “Conducting business in ways that produce social,
environmental and economic benefit for the communities in which we operate”.
Starbucks has been recognized as on of the 100 Best Companies to Work For
2009 (Fortune), World’s Most Ethical Companies 2008 (Ethisphere Magazine) among
others. Transparency and conducting business ethically is one of the most important
qualities of Starbucks. The company provides training and back up supply to its partners in
order to help them make ethical decisions at work. Starbucks reputation has been built on acting
ethically in all its dealings and their success is a direct result of this behavior.
The company is very concerned about minimizing their environmental footprint;
such action is so important that it is one of its six guiding principles in their mission statement.
Their mission statement is:
• Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity.
• Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business.
• Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting and fresh delivery
of our coffee.
• Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time.
• Contribute positively to our communities and our environment.
• Recognize that profitability is essential to our future success.
Within the company, employees, suppliers, farmers and others work together
in a daily basis to create an excellent quality coffee and to build stronger local
communities. In 2007 Starbuck’s costumers and partners gave 320,000 hours to thousands of
projects. Starbucks donated $10 million to the nonprofit organization behind those projects for
every hour of work donated. They donated a total of $18 million in cash and in-kind donations
across the U.S. and Canada. Starbucks supports some charitable organizations, such as:
Conservation International, EarthWatch Institute, African Wildlife Foundation, Save the
Children and MercyCorps. Additionaly Starbucks has an 11 year alliance with CARE: an
international organization dedicated to fight poverty in more than 60 countries.
In Starbucks its employees are called “partners” in order to contribute to a more
respectable working environment. Starbucks working opportunities are wide and
assorted; they go from working within the U.S. to working outside the U.S. and from working at
its stores, roasting plants or in supporting roles. There is also the opportunity for career
growth. Some of the benefits of working with Starbucks might be 401(k) savings plan,
stock options, and health insurance for working as little as 20 hours a week.
In Starbucks diversity is a guiding principle is an integral part in everything that they do.
They do not discriminate against race, gender, ethnicity, culture or physical ability. Starbucks
provides equal employment opportunity and benefits to all its employees. They work closely
with minorities and businesses owned by women to help them succeed. This diversity principle
has been beneficial to Starbucks because it has provided them with diverse communities across
the country and places where people can interact with each other.
Starbucks is making a formidable job giving back resources to society and to the
environment, trying to build better communities and making from its stores desirables place to
work in. I think within its possibilities all companies have to give back to the environment that
gave them the rough material to produce its goods. It is very important to think in our planet
and not to damage it.