Eco-warriors have been left fuming after it was revealed Starbucks’ incoming CEO commutes 1,000 miles a day on a private jet.
Brian Niccol opted to make the journey from Newport Beach, California, to Seattle, Washington, instead of relocating to the Evergreen State.
However, the coffee mega-chain is facing a backlash after Starbucks introduced a series of sustainable measures, including a ban on plastic straws.
A disgruntled social media user said: “The new Starbucks CEO is ‘supercommuting’ 1,000 miles to Seattle on a private jet to work, so don’t be too harsh on that waitress who gave you a plastic straw when you didn’t want one.”
Another wrote: “Absolutely wild that it cost $85 million in cash/stock to pry this guy from Chipotle and then they’ll just let him thrash the environment to commute 1000 miles 3 times a week on a corporate jet instead of having him move to the PNW.”
A third user added: “NPR reported the new Starbucks CEO will commute from his Southern California home to Seattle & back on the corporate jet three times a week.
“What a bunch of performative hypocrites with their enviro-friendly branding.
“No company who truly cares about the climate would agree to this.”
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Another said: “If this man is commuting regularly on a private jet, do not let Starbucks convince you they are environmentally conscious.
“They get on us commoners about our cars but things like private jets and yachts do way more damage to the environment per unit.”
However, in its offer letter to Niccol, Starbucks’ said: “During your employment with the company, you will not be required to relocate to the company’s headquarters … You agree to commute from your residence to the company’s headquarters (and engage in other business travel) as is required to perform your duties and responsibilities.”
A Starbucks spokesperson later stressed Niccol is expected to work from the company’s Seattle office at least three days a week in line with the company’s hybrid work policies.
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Starbucks will also offer Niccol, who was the former CEO of Chipotle, a “small remote office in Newport Beach”.
He is being given an “assistant” to man such an office.
The carbon footprint of the top 0.1 per cent is 77 times higher than the upper level required for global warming to peak at 1.5 per cent, a report released by charity Oxfam last year has revealed.
Private jets produce up to 14 times more pollution per passenger than commercial planes and 50 times more than trains.