Starbucks Corporation CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ...

Transparency and Reporting
Our stakeholders want to know what Starbucks is doing to
be a socially and environmentally responsible company. Since
2001, Starbucks has published a CSR Report as part of our
broader communications efforts to provide transparency on
our CSR activities and performance. In preparing our fiscal
2006 and previous reports, we have been influenced by the
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2002 Guidelines, a set of
internationally recognized sustainability reporting standards.
A GRI Index is available on pages 5 and 6.
Starbucks also reviewed the recently released GRI G3
Guidelines in developing this report, which includes
specific guidance for reporting against the GRI principles
for defining content and quality. The principles, along with
a brief description of how Starbucks addressed them, are
listed below:
Materiality: To determine what topics and indicators
to include in our report that reflect the company’s most
significant impacts and issues of greatest importance to
stakeholders, Starbucks conducted a materiality assessment,
described on page 3.
Stakeholder Inclusiveness: We define who our stakeholders
are, describe the measures we took to engage and solicit
their feedback, and throughout this report explain how we
are addressing their concerns. More specific information
on our stakeholder engagement efforts is described on the
previous page.
Sustainability Context: Discussing our CSR-related
measures and performance in the broader sustainability
context is essential. At the beginning of most sections, we
introduce the specific topics to be covered and explain how
they support our approach to sustainability.
Completeness: To provide readers with appropriate context
for what is and is not covered in this report, we define the
scope, boundaries and topics contained in this report on
page 4. Since first publishing a CSR report in 2001, we have
worked to make our report more comprehensive each year
and will continue to do so in the future.
Balance: Throughout this report, Starbucks has included
multi-year performance data and provided self assessments
of our performance. We have also included case studies
and external stakeholder comments as a way of providing
more insight and objectivity about some of the challenges
Starbucks faces.
Comparability: In developing the report each year, we
use our previous reports as starting points. We provide
follow-up information regarding any intended plans we
previously stated and include multi-year performance data
when possible. Self assessments about our performance are
also included. This enables our stakeholders to compare our
performance over time.
Accuracy: The content and data included in this report have
been internally reviewed by numerous subject matter experts
and senior leaders at Starbucks, and been subject to a system
of internal controls. As described below, external verification
was conducted by Moss Adams LLP, an independent
accounting and consulting firm. See pages 76 and 77 for
more information.
Timeliness: At the end of our fiscal year, which ends on the
Sunday closest to September 30, our goal is to complete and
release Starbucks CSR Report by the date of our Annual
Shareholders’ Meeting. The date of the meeting varies year to
year, but usually takes place within six months after the fiscal
year closes.
Clarity: Each year we have worked to improve the design
and readability of our report in a format that is concise,
understandable and user-friendly. We have also reduced
the amount of content covered in our printed report and
presented more information online.
Reliability: External verification of the data and statements
made in Starbucks CSR Annual Reports began in 2002,
when the company retained Seattle-based Moss Adams LLP,
the 12 th largest accounting and consulting firm in the U.S.
The selection of Moss Adams met Starbucks criteria for a
high-quality firm that had not worked with the company
previously, and a firm that could develop a customized
approach for verifying CSR-related data and content. (See
pages 76 and 77.)
S T A R B U C K S A N D C O R P O R A T E S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y