Starbucks Cup Designs Through the Decades: A Visual Journey

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Starbucks is rolling out new reusable cup programs and exploring innovative strategies to move away from single-use plastic cups. These eco-friendly initiatives aim to minimize environmental impact while encouraging customers to embrace greener coffee habits.

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In 2013, Starbucks began offering low-cost reusable cups—priced at $1 in the U.S. and Canada, and £1 in the UK—to encourage customers to reduce single-use cup waste and support more sustainable coffee practices.

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In 2011, Starbucks unveiled its holiday cup design featuring bold red tones and festive illustrations, capturing the warmth and joy of the season. The 2011 Starbucks holiday cups became part of the brand’s tradition of celebrating the holidays with limited-edition designs that encouraged cozy, seasonal coffee moments.

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Starbucks' 2012 holiday cups embraced a playful and cheerful theme, featuring whimsical winter characters and bright red backgrounds. The design brought a sense of fun and nostalgia, continuing the brand’s tradition of making each holiday season special with limited-edition festive cups that added extra joy to every coffee moment.

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In 2014, Brita Lynn Thompson, a 20-year-old community college student from Pittsburgh, emerged as the winner of the Starbucks White Cup Contest, beating nearly 4,000 other entries with her creative design.

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In 2015, Starbucks introduced its popular cold cups, offering customers a stylish and eco-friendly way to enjoy iced beverages while reducing plastic waste.

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In the summer of 2015, Starbucks launched the new EarthSleeve hot cup sleeves, crafted with less paper and more post-consumer content compared to previous designs, reflecting the brand’s commitment to sustainability.

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In the 2015 Starbucks Partner Cup Contest, winning designs came from Ben Cowley, a Texas barista with nearly a year of experience; Brynn James, a Washington barista for 10 months; and Brandon Fragua, a New Mexico shift supervisor and partner of four years.

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In 2016, Starbucks introduced multiple designs for their holiday cups, kicking off a tradition that continued in the following years.

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In 2017, Starbucks collaborated with the Seattle Seahawks to create exclusive gift cards and cup sleeves, featuring the iconic “12” jersey to celebrate the team's dedicated fanbase.

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In 2017, Starbucks introduced its first-ever spring hot beverage cup, marking a new seasonal addition to its iconic cup lineup.

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Before serving the 2017 Starbucks spring cups, baristas often added a hand-drawn design to each cup, adding a personal touch to every order.

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In 2018, Starbucks began using recyclable, compostable, and reusable cups as part of their ongoing sustainability efforts.

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A set of four distinct designs made up the 2018 Starbucks holiday cups, each capturing the festive spirit in its own way.

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In 2019, Starbucks released 24-ounce reusable tumblers to honor the 50th anniversary of the first U.S. Pride rally, celebrating love and inclusivity.

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After a successful trial, Starbucks rolled out recyclable strawless lids in 2020 for iced coffee, tea, espresso, and Starbucks Refreshers, supporting its shift toward sustainable packaging.

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