Is Starbucks ethical and sustainable?
Starbucks has been measured by the Sustainable Brand Index – the largest independent study of sustainability and brands in Europe – across 3 Nordic markets.
Is Starbucks ethical?
The Sustainable Brand Index does not audit companies. It measures how consumers see a brand's environmental and social responsibility, which is close to what most people mean by ethical. On that measure, Starbucks ranks #165 in the Netherlands in 2026, its strongest of 3 markets. A lower number is better.
Key takeaways
- Strongest market today: the Netherlands at 165th (2026).
- All-time best result: 53rd in Denmark (2019).
- Biggest year-over-year improvement in the Netherlands: moved up 7 positions from 2025 to 2026.
- Biggest year-over-year drop in Denmark: slipped 37 positions from 2025 to 2026.
- Measured for 12 years (2015–2026) across 3 markets.
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Starbucks's ranking trend
Lower is better · #1 = most sustainable in marketAnnual position within each country's full brand universe, 2015–2026.
🇩🇰Starbucks in Denmark
Restaurants, Cafes & Take-away| Year | Rank in Denmark |
|---|---|
| 2018 | #88 |
| 2019 | #53 |
| 2020 | #109 |
| 2021 | #89 |
| 2022 | #83 |
| 2023 | #156 |
| 2024 | #192 |
| 2025 | #161 |
| 2026 | #198 |
🇳🇴Starbucks in Norway
Restaurants, Cafes & Take-away| Year | Rank in Norway |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #68 |
| 2016 | #116 |
| 2017 | #153 |
| 2018 | #172 |
| 2019 | #101 |
| 2020 | #191 |
| 2021 | #145 |
| 2022 | #213 |
| 2023 | #206 |
| 2024 | #244 |
| 2025 | #233 |
| 2026 | #258 |
🇳🇱Starbucks in the Netherlands
Restaurants, Cafes & Take-away| Year | Rank in the Netherlands |
|---|---|
| 2018 | #62 |
| 2019 | #85 |
| 2020 | #86 |
| 2021 | #105 |
| 2022 | #138 |
| 2023 | #116 |
| 2024 | #125 |
| 2025 | #172 |
| 2026 | #165 |
Want to know what's behind Starbucks's ranking?
The full brand report shows your sustainability score, what's driving it, how you compare to competitors, and where you're exposed – with 16 years of trend data.
Questions about Starbucks
Is Starbucks a sustainable brand?
Starbucks has been measured by the Sustainable Brand Index since 2015. Most recent rankings: Denmark #198 (2026); Norway #258 (2026); the Netherlands #165 (2026). Lower rank numbers mean consumers see the brand as more sustainable.
Is Starbucks ethical?
The Sustainable Brand Index does not audit companies. It measures how consumers see a brand's environmental and social responsibility, which is close to what most people mean by ethical. On that measure, Starbucks ranks #165 in the Netherlands in 2026, its strongest of 3 markets. A lower number is better.
How sustainable is Starbucks in Denmark?
In Denmark, Starbucks ranks #198 in 2026 (industry: Restaurants, Cafes & Take-away). Its best position was #53 in 2019.
How sustainable is Starbucks in Norway?
In Norway, Starbucks ranks #258 in 2026 (industry: Restaurants, Cafes & Take-away). Its best position was #68 in 2015.
How sustainable is Starbucks in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, Starbucks ranks #165 in 2026 (industry: Restaurants, Cafes & Take-away). Its best position was #62 in 2018.
Where does this data on Starbucks come from?
From the Sustainable Brand Index, an independent consumer study run by SB Insight since 2011, with more than 80,000 interviews a year in Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Source: Sustainable Brand Index 2026, SB Insight.
About the ranking
The Sustainable Brand Index measures how consumers perceive a brand's sustainability – both environmental and social responsibility. Rankings are based on annual surveys of more than 80,000 consumers across Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands. Brands are ranked within their industry and country.
Read the full methodology →