Yes, Starbucks Engages in Coffeewashing. But Don’t Let Reactionaries Weaponise It.

For paid subscribers: I’ve written before about Starbucks’ myriad climate issues, but now conservative activist shareholders are trying to weaponise those failings in service of a climate denialist goal.

A white private jet flies against a partly cloudy sky, seen from below
Photo by Julia Volk via Pexels

After publishing last week’s (surprisingly controversial) article on the contradictions between sustainably-marketed coffee companies partnering with airlines, somebody sent me an article published by The Cool Down, which bills itself as a “climate-driven culture and lifestyle brand”.

The article in question is titled “Starbucks CEO faces major backlash after details of his work routine are revealed: 'Ill-conceived decision'”, and uses a press release and shareholder proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research’s Free Enterprise Project as its basis.

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