Starbucks cups : trash or treasure? : an example of facilitated systems thinking assisting stakeholders in designing their own system to recycle take-away cups

Abstract

A mixed methods, action-research study was conducted to assess the efficacy and usefulness of Facilitated Systems Thinking as an intervention for system design in complex, multi-stakeholder systems, especially where the stakeholders themselves design the system. This research is contextualized within and provides a case study on the Starbuck's Coffee Company's efforts to collaborate with stakeholders throughout food packaging value chain to create a system for recycling hot (poly-coated paper) and cold (plastic) take-away beverage cups. Comparative interview results indicate an increase in interviewee awareness of others in the value chain, increase in discussion of prototyping and pilots, and increase in their awareness of their own responsibilities and leverage points within the system. Preliminary results from the most recent intervention are nine stakeholder-designed pilot tests. This study supplements a larger investigation of the emerging system to recycle take-away cups. Results from this study, as well as suggestions for investigation design changes will contribute to and be incorporated in the larger study.