Starbucks helps make the Earth a little greener

I started living sustainably around the house 2 years ago. I turn off the lights when I go out. I chose to handwash my clothes if I have a few to clean. I always bring an eco bag wherever I go and a spare tumbler if I have to order a drink from my favorite coffee shop- Starbucks. I also bring my personal straw with me. Single-use items such as straws,  plastic grocery bags, paper towels, and even toilet paper are all called single-use items. They are costly to the environment. if you have to cut down on them, you should start today.

To encourage reusability on Earth Day and to inspire its customers to make more sustainable choices all year long, Starbucks will launch reusable hot and cold cups in the Philippines. Reducing its environmental footprint and positively impacting the communities it serves has always been important to Starbucks. Starting April 22, the reusable cups and straws will be available at all Starbucks® stores in the Philippines.



Interestingly, the reusable cup is nearly identical to Starbucks iconic white cup and is made from polypropylene, a plastic which is widely accepted into global recycling infrastructure. The new reusable cups are designed to make the cup sturdier than paper and is a more sustainable approach to single-use packaging.

                      Pro-environmental choices celebrated through new reusable cups and straws

As Starbucks continues to works towards creating a more sustainable planet, it also empowers others to join the cause and help organizations with the same vision. From April 22 to 26, customers who will bring in their reusable cups, personal tumblers or mugs of at least 16oz. in size or higher will be given the option to donate their Php5 cup discount to their choice of environmental organization from the given NGO partners. Upon choosing an organization to donate to, customers will receive a complimentary upsize.

Customers may choose between the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Philippines or the Haribon Foundation, two organizations dedicated to preserving life and nature. By the end of the promo, Starbucks commits to shoulder the amount needed to match the donations between the two organizations.



Globally, an estimated 600 billion paper and plastic cups are distributed annually. Although Starbucks cups only account for around 1% of that total, it is committed to bring more sustainable solutions to
reduce waste. Since 2014, Starbucks has offered the reusable cup in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. and so far the company has sold more than 25 million globally.

Last year, Starbucks also announced its goal of removing all plastic straws in its store globally by 2020. In the Philippines, the coffee brand has also begun taking steps towards this goal with the Skip the Straw initiative. At local stores, customers are offered to skip the straws, disposable utensils and napkins for their orders and are provided more sustainable options including specially-designed sipping lids and compostable straws.

“We’ve seen an increase in public awareness and concern for the plastic waste issue in recent years. We’re proud to provide a reusable option in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines without making sacrifices to our customers’ daily coffee needs,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing, category and QA, Starbucks Philippines. “While there is still a long way to go, we’re excited to work with others to find global solutions and encourage our customers to choose reusability whenever possible.” 

Download the Starbucks PH App for access to a wider range of experiences and connect to an exciting network of flavors and rewards

Everything is now accessible through an app. You can shop online through an app, order your food, do your grocery, shop for your makeup.  How about browsing the latest menu and checking your card balance to your favorite Starbucks stores?

This is good news to all coffee lovers out there. Starbucks launches the Starbucks PH App, where you can track your card balance.

Starbucks Philippines today announced the expansion of the company’s industry-leading digital ecosystem with the launch of the Starbucks PH App, a mobile app providing a fast and convenient payment method for customers at more than 300 stores across the market.

The first coffee retailer to offer this innovation in the Philippines, the Starbucks® PH App integrates the popular Starbucks Card payment method and My Starbucks Rewards® on customers’ mobile devices.

“We are pleased to introduce the Starbucks PH App to our My Starbucks Rewards customers as they earn stars and engage with Starbucks online,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing, Starbucks Philippines. “This is the latest Starbucks innovation which aims to provide an enhanced experience and meet customers’ needs in the digital space, while continuing to provide an exceptional experience in our stores.”

Extending the Third Place

A feature called “Shake to Pay” allows customers to shake their phones to bring up a barcode within the app that can be scanned to pay and redeem. The app is linked to their My Starbucks Rewards account so balances are automatically updated whenever the app is used.

The Starbucks PH App keeps customers in the loop, making sure they are the first to know the newest product offerings and promos.  Customers are notified whenever new messages are received on the app. Starbucks PH App users are also in for a treat as they receive special offers and event invitations straight into their app inboxes. As an added bonus, users can also share these offers with friends through email and social media accounts.

Register to a My Starbucks Rewards account and easily track your Stars and rewards on your phone with the Starbucks PH App. Pool your Starbucks Cards into one account and deactivate a lost Starbucks Card within the app. Users can even view past transactions and track their balance real time. A feature called “Shake to Pay” allows customers to shake their phones to bring up a barcode within the app that can be scanned to pay and redeem. The app is linked to their My Starbucks Rewards account so balances are automatically updated whenever the app is used.



The Starbucks PH App also helps Starbucks lovers enjoy their favorite beverages anytime, anywhere with its store locator feature. Here, they can be directed to the nearest store along with a list of other recommendations in the vicinity as they search by store name, Starbucks Reserve store, drive-thru store, or stores open at the moment.



The app also includes a menu of beverages, food options, packaged whole bean coffee, as well as seasonal offers and a newsfeed with the latest merchandise that Starbucks customers can easily explore.



Download the Starbucks  PH App on App Store or Google Play Store for access to a wider range of experiences and connect to an exciting network of flavors, rewards, and conveniences right at your fingertips.

Innovating our Digital Flywheel

Starbucks consistently innovates to elevate the coffee experience for its customers. When it opened its first store in the Philippines in 1997, the Starbucks Experience was born. Coffee was redefined for many Filipinos from an ordinary drink that was prepared as part of a morning routine to a perfectly handcrafted beverage, made just the way you like it.

In 2013, after years of serving delicious cups of coffee to Filipinos, the global brand changed the game once more by turning the simple act of enjoying your favorite Starbucks beverages into an even more rewarding experience with the My Starbucks Rewards loyalty program.

With My Starbucks Rewards, customers are able to collect Stars, redeem rewards, receive the latest updates on new products, limited-edition merchandise and exclusive events and experience convenient cashless payment with their Starbucks Cards.

Starbucks features the new Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato and Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino

To all Starbucks coffee lovers, Starbucks brings you the new espresso handcrafted beverages that would set your coffee experience a top- notch level. Expect the new handcrafted macchiato and cappuccino beverage to hit every coffee lovers instagram feeds and help make it trend nationwde.  I cant wait to taste a sip and snap a picture of these two starting February 21!

Delight in the wonderland of Espresso with the new Starbucks espresso layer collection which includes the new Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato and Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino. The global coffee brand welcomes customers to the next level of coffee artistry with new indulgent beverages.

Available starting February 21, these beautifully layered espresso beverages are set to introduce an extraordinary coffee experience that will surely excite even those who are only starting their coffee exploration.

Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato offers a twist on the classic pairing of vanilla and coffee – a marriage made in heaven. Tahitian Vanilla has a unique floral aroma and mild sweetness which pairs the roasty coffee, complemented by a layer of velvety steamed milk, then topped with Starbucks signature espresso and finished with vanilla bean specks and vanilla drizzle in our classic double crosshatch pattern.

Meanwhile, the refreshing Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino is perfectly blended to suit the taste of those who need the reinvigorating sweet flavor. In this beverage, Valencia Orange Mocha Sauce is combined with milk, topped with dense and creamy foam and then layered with affogato-style signature espresso shots, sweet cocoa powder and tartly-sweet bits of orange peel to add even more flavors.

These layered espresso beverages are handcrafted by Starbucks Baristas, reflecting their true artistry and sharing their passion for coffee to the customers with every sip.

“We are delighted to introduce Starbucks latest take on espresso, with Baristas offering unique and sophisticated treats for coffee lovers. They vary in flavor, texture and experience but espresso is always at the core. Starbucks Baristas craft carefully selected ingredients with espresso to produce stunning combinations of flavors and layers. These beverages invite customers to experience new and different ways to enjoy coffee,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing, Starbucks Philippines. 

Also available for a limited time is the Starbucks Tribute BlendTM created to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary in 2011. It combines the all-time favorite coffees: Ethiopian sun-dried beans with an exotic flourish of dark cherry; Aged Sumatra, loved for its syrupy body and cedary spice notes; juicy, herbal and complex coffees from Papua New Guinea; and our Colombia coffee, bright, balanced and nutty. You can also enjoy this coffee anytime, anywhere with the Starbucks VIA® Tribute BlendTM so you won’t miss out its layers of flavors even on the go.

What’s more, the Starbucks Cold Brew, the slow-steeped and brewed without heat coffee which was previously available only to Starbucks Reserve stores, is now available in all Starbucks stores nationwide.

Ipanema opens more stores in time for the holiday season

Ipanema, Brazil’s fun, chic and colorful brand of sandals and flip flops, has opened its latest outlet at SM City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna as part of its expansionary thrust in time for the holidays. The new store is one of the new outlets that the company is eyeing to open this year in time for the holiday season.

With the opening of this latest branch, residents within the area can conveniently shop for the latest Ipanema footwear, especially for gift giving this Christmas. The new store carries the latest Ipanema styles and collections, each one inspired by the spectacular coastal neighborhood of Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“Our expansion in this part of the South couldn’t have come at a more opportune time as the holiday season is just around the corner,” explains Cecille Loretizo, Head of Marketing, ELRO Retail Corp. “This new store which carries Ipanema sandals exclusively, boasts of a wider  selection of the latest footwear from this iconic Brazilian brand.” 

Aside from the newly opened Ipanema outlet at SM City Sta. Rosa, Ipanema store is set to open in SM City Dasmarinas and more stores on the upcoming months, signs of ELRO’s strong outlook in the market as it aims to further grow its retail footprint in the country.

The new Ipanema store is located at Level 1, SM City Sta Rosa. Ipanema stores are also located at  SM City Lucena, Clark-Angeles, North Edsa, Bacolod, Pampanga, Cauayan-Isabela, Gensan, Iloilo, Roasales and Cabanatuan; as well as at SM Lanang Premier in Davao, SM Seaside Cebu, Ayala Centrio Cagayan de Oro, Ayala Abreeza Davao and Robinsons Place Antipolo.