Starbucks’ Chief Sustainability Officer Marika McCauley Sine

Starbucks is a brand known around the world for its coffee.

More than 40,000 stores in 80 countries across the globe serve up coffee from this premier roaster and retailer.

In the US alone, it is estimated that around five million Starbucks drinks are sold each day. 

Marika McCauley Sine is Starbucks’ Chief Sustainability Officer, responsible for steering the company’s impact on the world. 

She has been recognised at number four in Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 Women in Sustainability 2025 supplement. 

Marika McCauley Sine’s career

With a BA in International Relations from William & Mary and a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, Marika began her career at Oxfam America as an International Development Programme and Policy Advisor. 

She joined The Coca-Cola Company as a graduate intern and progressed through global sustainability roles over 10 years, becoming Group Director, International Public Affairs. 

Marika developed Coca-Cola’s programme to enable the economic empowerment of five million women entrepreneurs in its value chain. 

In 2015, she joined Mars Inc. as Director, Human Rights and took on the role of Global Vice President, Sustainability in 2019. 

From here, Marika became the Chief Sustainability Officer of Mars Petcare in 2020 before leaving the company in 2024 to join Starbucks. 

“As I reflect on the ten wonderful years I’ve spent at Mars, I feel deep gratitude for the varied experiences, extensive learning, and close relationships with so many outstanding colleagues,” she said on LinkedIn when announcing the move. 

“It will be an honour to lead sustainability for such an impactful business and beloved brand, in collaboration with talented partners and community members around the world. 

“I am inspired to help advance the Starbucks legacy of doing business with humanity and fostering connection, opportunity and joy through exceptional coffee.”

Marika is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Women Business Collaborative and a First Mover Fellow of the Aspen Institute. 

Starbucks’ sustainability challenges

Coffee beans grow primarily in the “Coffee Belt”, a region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. 

Temperatures here range from 15°C to 27°C and there is consistent rainfall. 

Production of coffee has contributed to significant deforestation, particularly in Central America.

The process is water-intensive, requiring about 140 litres of water per cup of coffee. 

It’s not just the beans – takeaway coffee cups are often single-use, and less than one in 400 in the UK are recycled. 

Starbucks, and its leader Marika, are committed to tackling these issues to ensure the company has a smaller impact on the planet.

Sustainability leadership at Starbucks

As Chief Sustainability Officer, Marika leads Starbucks’ sustainability initiatives. 

The company aims to reduce its water and carbon footprint by half by 2030 compared to a 2019 baseline. 

Its Greener Stores initiatives have saved US$60m in annual operating costs – stores that successfully meet 25 required standards across areas including energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion.

The company aims to have 10,000 Greener Stores certified in 2025. 

Starbucks is also working to reduce packaging waste with a variety of initiatives, including introducing updated cold cups made with 20% less plastic in 2024. 

It led the first city-wide reusable cup project in Petaluma, California with companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola that proved system-wide engagement and collaboration is possible and effective. 

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