This undated photo shows tumblers at a local Starbucks outlet. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — Many popular coffee shop franchises that sell tumblers and flasks are failing to sell replaceable parts, such as rubber gaskets.
Most coffee shops offer discounts if a customer brings their own multi-use cup, as part of their efforts to reduce the use of paper, plastic and other disposable materials.
Consequently, many customers purchase tumblers at the coffee store to use them to buy drinks.
The problem, however, is that rubber gaskets for tumblers, which should be replaced regularly, aren’t readily available in many coffee shops.
Among South Korea’s 10 top coffee shop franchises, Starbucks and A Twosome Place are the only ones selling replaceable tumbler parts.
As such, many customers end up throwing away their tumblers when the rubber gasket is no longer usable.
In order for tumblers to work properly, rubber gaskets are crucial to maintain the drink’s temperature and prevent the beverage from leaking out.
Failing to sell tumbler parts at coffee shops creates concern for unnecessary waste caused by unavailable rubber gaskets.
Experts advise that offering rubber gaskets and encouraging customers to replace them regularly would allow coffee franchises to overcome ‘greenwashing’ criticism.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
