Our Starbucks Week of Action has started! Up and down the country we have outreach events happening and supporters door-dropping our leaflets. Together we’re showing consumers the Arlarming reality of dairy and urging them to choose vegan, not only as they enter Starbucks stores but every day thereafter.

But that’s not all. We have three powerful online actions you can get involved in this week, all designed to draw attention to our petition’s demands and our request for a meeting with Starbucks. This is a great opportunity to get involved if you’re unable to attend one of our events. We would love it if you could take part in all three, which would help us to keep the pressure on Starbucks and draw attention to our campaign. 

Action 1 - Send an email to Starbucks

We have tried multiple times to get a response from Starbucks about our petition, we’ve even reached out directly to individual members of the sustainability team to no avail. So we need your help to increase the visibility of our demand, and to highlight the level of support there is for change. 

We also have a groundbreaking new report written by Dr Helen Lambert to evidence how badly cows suffer in the dairy industry, which you can include as part of your email. If we keep stacking the pressure, Starbucks will have no choice but to respond to us. So will you support us by sending an email to Starbucks’ press email? By using your personal email account, rather than our action page, you’re more likely to land in their inboxes directly. 

• pressEMEA@starbucks.com 
• press@starbucks.com

Points to include in your email:

It’s important to make the email your own, though here are some guidelines of what you could include. 

• ‍Introduction: I, [insert name], am emailing you on behalf of Animal Justice Project, to draw attention to their request for a meeting with a member of your senior management team. I urge you to listen to what they have to say, and hold a formal meeting with them about their ongoing petition encouraging you to make oat milk your default milk. This week, up and down the country, outreach teams are speaking to your customers directly as part of a Week of Action demanding change.  
• Our demand: We believe Starbucks has both the opportunity and responsibility to respond transparently to concerns about its dairy supply chain. We are respectfully placing further emphasis on this request for a meeting, either in person or online, to discuss transitioning to oat milk as the default nationwide. ‍
• New report: A powerful new report by Dr Helen Lambert draws on a wealth of scientific research to uncover what life is really like for cows and calves trapped on dairy farms. What the report reveals is deeply concerning, and it challenges many of the assumptions held about dairy farming. It is vital that all at Starbucks read this report to understand the Arlarming price of the dairy they serve. ‍

The story so far:

• In March, Animal Justice Project released undercover footage from Lowfields Farm, a supplier to Arla. The footage showed disturbing instances of animal abuse. This investigation received widespread attention, covered by over 25 major media outlets including BBC News, the Daily Mail, and The Mirror. Animal Justice Project believes this farm has since been reinstated by Arla, meaning this milk could be in Starbucks stores across the northern region.
• Starbucks UK continues to source milk from Arla, the UK’s largest dairy cooperative implicated in this investigation. Animal Justice Project launched a petition calling on Starbucks to make oat milk the default option nationwide, addressing sustainability and animal welfare concerns. The petition has gathered 11,260 signatures and support from public figures such as Heather Mills.
• On April 25, Animal Justice Project visited Starbucks UK’s headquarters in London to deliver the petition and a visual display representing public support. Despite efforts to initiate contact ahead of time, they received no response, and no representative was available to speak with them during their visit.
• In response, the advocacy group has launched a nationwide Starbucks Week of Action. This initiative involves outreach events outside Starbucks stores, sharing footage from the investigation, and encouraging customers to try plant-based options.
• ‍Next Steps: Animal Justice Project would like a meeting to discuss this incredibly important step you must take. There is so much demand for this change! 

Action 2 - Comment on Starbucks’ Instagram Posts

This one is super simple but could have a big impact! Copy the lines below and comment with them on Starbucks’ instagram. The coffee chain is very active on this particular social media platform, so your comments are likely to be seen by many social media users. We recommend using one point per comment, and using them across multiple posts. You can even share our posts into your story, tagging in @StarbucksUK.  

Example comments:

- Starbucks, the time for change is now, make oat milk the default and listen to @animaljusticeproject  #UdderlyKind 

- Starbucks UK, your customers are demanding compassion in every cup – so meet with @animaljusticeproject #UdderlyKind 

- Oat milk is the future. Starbucks, lead the change, start by talking to @animaljusticeproject #UdderlyKind 

Action 3 - Write on Your Hand and Highlight Our Demand! 

If 100 people shared a photo of themselves online with our key campaign demand on their hand – ‘Starbucks Make Oat the Default’ – we would reach thousands of people online with our message. 

Will you consider doing it for the countless cows trapped in the dairy industry? Please tag both Starbucks and Animal Justice Project in your photo, and together we can reach thousands with this impactful action. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our mission to end animal agriculture. During our action week, we can make a real difference for cows trapped in the dairy industry, both online and on the streets.

As always, 

For the animals! 

‍