The coffee giant hopes that customers will return the cup on future visits. You’ll get a whopping 10 cents off your next drink purchase if you do (or if you bring in any reusable cup). And there are 25 bonus Stars available to Starbucks Rewards members who reuse their cups on subsequent visits. Anyone who places an order in person, on the Starbucks app, or using Starbucks Delivers will receive a free reusable red cup. Earlier this year, Starbucks also began testing its reusable cup program in specific markets, which it anticipates will also help reach its waste reduction goal.
As celebrated as it may be, Red Cup Day doesn’t come without controversy. For the second year, unionized Starbucks workers plan to strike for Red Cup Day to fight for higher wages and better staffing. The holiday season and promotional days like this are particularly challenging for workers who must tackle an onslaught of customers at the counter, drive-thru, and mobile ordering.