Tata Starbucks, the joint venture formed between global coffee brand Starbucks and the Tatas, recently confirmed that the company is aiming to use only compostable and recyclable packaging solutions at all of its stores in India, starting the next World Environment Day, which is on June 5.

For the record, Tata Starbucks operates 138 stores throughout the country in Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. It had established its business in October 2012.

Navin Gurnaney, the newly appointed CEO of Tata Starbucks, was quoted saying that by the World Environment Day, the company would be leading the industry in using 100 percent compostable, recyclable and sustainable packaging materials. He also stated that ever since the company started its operations here, it has only been utilizing those bags, napkins and glasses which are made from recyclable fiber.

Gurnaney mentioned that moving to fully compostable and recyclable items would help prevent 4 million cutlery sets,  17 million straws, 27 million lids and 23 million cups and from ending up at landfills annually. He added that India is ranked in the top 5 markets for Starbucks worldwide, besides being the fastest growing market among other emerging economies.

Reportedly, the premium coffee chain is aiming to close the financial year with 144 stores. It had launched 10 new stores in 2015, while opened 16 more in 2016, with additional 25 launched in the next year and more 30 stores in 2018.

According to Gurnaney, the company is quite bullish in India and is on its way to achieve its goal of breaking even by fiscal year 2020. Reports show that in FY18, the company had posted a net loss of Rs. 30.5 crore. Tata Global Beverages had informed that for FY18 Tata Starbucks recorded a 28% improvement in sales owing to news stores added in the year and a strong in-store performance.