Title: How ethical is Starbucks Corporation? | Ethical Consumer
Headings: Starbucks Corporation
Starbucks Corporation
Starbucks Ethics
People
Supply chain management
Environment
Animals
Politics
Company information
Company Ethiscore
Company Address:
Associated brands
Ownership structure
Ethical stories

Content: This affected how they faired in the Animal Rights, Factory Farming and Controversial Technology categories of the Ethical Consumer rating system. When Ethical Consumer searched the Starbucks and Starbucks UK websites, we investigated their menu, specifically looking at the products that contained chicken, beef, pork, fish and cheese. Unfortunately, none of these products were certified organic or free range. Without any evidence to suggest otherwise, Ethical Consumer assumed that it was highly likely that these products were derived from factory farmed animals. The company, therefore, lost marks in the Animal Rights and Factory Farming categories. In March 2015 the British government website, ww w.food.gov.uk, declared that "almost all" of the soya from the major producers Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and the USA was genetically modified as well as "much of" the maize imported from the USA. This followed a report that the EU animal feed industry imported 70% of its maize, soya and rapeseed requirements. Starbucks had no policy or statement regarding GMOs in products or animal feed. Ethical Consumer therefore felt it highly likely that Starbucks animal products were raised with the use of GM feed and it lost half a mark in the Controversial Technology category. Politics
Starbucks lost several marks under Ethical Consumer’s politics rating for a range of concerns including tax avoidance and excessive directors’ pay.